FR2664152A1 - Device for studying the mobility of the spinal column - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for studying the mobility of the spinal column, comprising in particular a horizontal base (1) on which a subject to be examined is placed in a standing position, a vertical reference plane (2) integral with the base and provided with adjustable locking means (3) for immobilising in particular the pelvis of the subject, grips (4, 5, 6) which are in each case joined to a wire wound about an elastic device (7) which includes an electrical sensor measuring the length of wire unwound when the said subject performs various prescribed movements, keeping hold of a grip, the electrical sensors being joined to a transducer (10) which is itself connected to a microcomputer (11) equipped with a printer (12) and using software adapted for acquisition and storage of the measured values, and for displaying or printing out a list of results, interpreting the examination and proposing treatment.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of human morphology, and relates to a device for studying the mobility of the spine.

The state of the art is represented by patent FR 2287 888 issued to
Doctor BADELON, in which is described a device for studying the mobility of the spine of a subject in the frontal plane and in the sagittal plane, comprising a horizontal base on which a subject takes a standing position, a vertical reference plane provided with adjustable means for immobilizing the pelvis or the thighs of the subject and a vertical slot in which slides a cursor associated with a movable graduated slide to measure the distance between said vertical reference plane and the spinous processes of the subject, as well as three handles, to the right and left of the subject and in front of him, each of these handles being connected by a cable to a counterweight sliding along the vertical reference plane, in front of a graduated scale.

 This device allows the study of the lumbo # peIvi-lemoral complex of a patient, said complex being constituted by the association of the lumbo-sacral hinge and the coxo-femoral hinge. It allows not only to analyze established low back pain, but also to detect in children, from the age of ten, abnormalities risk factors of overwork of the lumbopelvi-femoral hinge, risking to cause low back pain adulthood.

For this, we ask the subject to execute different movements, during which we can measure the movements of his spine in various ways:
- by measuring the distance between the vertical reference plane and the thorny processes of the subject, using the graduated slide bar associated with the sliding cursor on the vertical reference plane,
- by measuring the displacement of a counterweight linked to a handle, which the subject holds with one or two hands,
- by measuring the angular displacement of the subject's shoulders during a torso rotation.

 During these movements, the subject's pelvis or thighs can possibly be immobilized using the above-mentioned adjustable means. The measured values must be transferred manually to a pre-printed table, and certain quantities must be calculated manually before proceeding to the interpretation of the results, which lengthens the re-examination time.

 The object of the present invention is to propose an improvement of this device, making it possible in particular to avoid these steps of reading displacements, of manual transfer to a table, and of calculation of intermediate values, and also allowing editing of an interpretation. automatic examination and therapeutic proposals.

 The subject of the present invention is a device for studying the mobility of the spine in the frontal plane and the sagittal plane, comprising a horizontal base on which a subject to be examined takes a standing position, a vertical reference plane secured to the base, provided with adjustable locking means for immobilizing in particular the pelvis or the thighs of the subject and a vertical slot in which slides a cursor associated with a movable strip having an end close to the subject and an end remote from the subject, a first handle in front of the subject, a second handle to the left of the subject, and a third handle to the right of the subject, characterized in that said handles are each connected to a wire wound on an elastic device, integral with the assembly formed by the horizontal base and the vertical reference plane and comprising an electric sensor measuring the length of unwound wire when said subject is performing various prescribed movements, keeping a handle in hand, and in that the electrical sensors are connected to a transducer connected to a microcomputer equipped with a printer and using software adapted to carry out the acquisition and storage of the measured values, as well as the display or printing of a sheet of results for the interpretation of the examination, and of therapeutic proposals.

 Advantageously, the end of the movable strip furthest from the subject to be examined is provided with a wire wound on an elastic device secured to the assembly formed by the horizontal base and the vertical reference plane and comprising an electric sensor. measuring the length of unwound thread when the cursor or the movable strip is moved. From said end of the movable strip, the wire can extend horizontally to a return pulley rotating around an axis integral with the slider, then vertically to the elastic winding device.

In an alternative embodiment, the movable strip is provided with a hollow channel and comprises a wire sliding inside said channel, a first end of the wire comprising a hook, a second end of the wire winding up on an integral elastic device of the assembly formed by the base and the vertical reference plane, the elastic device comprising an electrical sensor measuring the length of unwound wire, and a cap comprising an outer circular rim is placed on the subject's head, said rim having points of attachment for hanging the hook and an external groove allowing the winding of the wire. The hollow channel of the movable strip can communicate with the outside at least by a lower longitudinal groove extending from the end of the strip closest to the subject to the end of the slide most distant from the subject, and the cursor may include a rotating pulley penetrating the interior of the hollow channel by said groove, so that the wire extends horizontally inside the channel from the hook to the pulley of the cursor, then vertically to the elastic winding device
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electrical sensors measuring the length of the unwound wire are circular rheostats.

 The elastic winding devices may each consist of a cylindrical coil secured to an axis fixed to one end of a winding return spring, the second end of which is secured to the assembly formed by the base and the reference plane. vertical, said axis being further fixed to the axis of the circular rheostat.

 Each cylindrical spool may further include a helical groove shaped on its outer cylindrical surface, so that the wire is wound along said helical groove.

 The transducer can also be connected to an electrical goniometer consisting of a housing containing an electric rotation measurement sensor provided with an axis extending outside said housing by a rod, said rod being intended to be held by a practitioner by applying the housing against the sternum of the subject to be examined, so as to measure the rotation of the bust of said subject in a horizontal plane. Advantageously, the electrical sensor of the electrical goniometer is a circular rheostat.

 In a particular embodiment, the adjustable locking means comprise means for measuring the force exerted by the subject on said adjustable locking means, during the various prescribed movements. Advantageously, these measurement means are piezoelectric sensors arranged in bearing pads placed at the points of contact between the iliac spines of the subject and the adjustable locking means, said piezoelectric sensors being connected to the transducer.

 An input handle with a contact button can be connected to the microcomputer so that when the software loaded on the microcomputer requests a measurement, once the subject is in the prescribed position and one elastic winding devices has been actuated as desired by one of the handles or by the cursor or slide, or the goniometer has been actuated as desired, the practitioner triggers the acquisition of the measurement by the microcomputer by pressing the button on the grip.

 The invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the detailed description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example with regard to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a form of
embodiment of the present invention front view;
- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, rear view;
- Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the slider and the slide
mobile according to the present invention seen from the rear.

- Figure 4 is a schematic view of any of the devices
winding elastics, according to an embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 5 is a schematic view of the electrical and electronic means
of the present invention;
- Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the program putting
using the device of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an example of an examination report published on a printer,
concerning the sagittal plane;
FIG. 8 is an example of an examination report published on a printer,
concerning the frontal plane and the horizontal plane;
- Figure 9 is a diagram of the movable strip and the cap which is attached to it
associated in a particular embodiment of the invention; and
- Figure 10 is a schematic section along line 10-10 of Figure 9.

 In its embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the device of the present invention comprises a base 1 on which a subject to be examined (not shown) takes a standing position. This base includes a podoscope (not shown).

A vertical reference plane 2, integral with the base 1, comprises adjustable locking means 3 for immobilizing in particular the pelvis or the thighs of the subject. The vertical reference plane 2 also includes a vertical slot 40 in which slides a cursor 41 associated with a movable strip 43 (cf. FIG. 3) for measuring the distance between said vertical reference plane and the thorny processes of the subject, and the height of said processes. This strip slides horizontally in the cursor 41. It has two ends: one close to the subject, and one distant from the subject.

 As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the slider 41 can be provided with a clamping means 42 for locking it in position. A wire 20 can be attached to the end of the movable strip furthest from the subject. The wire 20 passes through the groove of a return pulley 44 rotating around an axis integral with the cursor 41, then descends vertically to an elastic winding device 7, which can for example be placed inside the base 1 Thus a vertical movement of the cursor 41 or a horizontal movement of the strip 43 of a certain length L causes the winding or the unwinding of the same length L of wire on the elastic winding device 6.

 The device of the invention further comprises three handles: a first handle 4 is placed in front of the subject, a second handle 5 is placed to the left of the subject, and a third handle 6 is placed to the right of the subject. The handles 4, 5 and 6 are each connected to a wire 20 of approximate length 1.20 m, winding around an elastic device 7 which can for example be placed inside the base 1.

 Each elastic device 7 comprises a cylindrical coil 21 secured to an axis 22. The coil 21 comprises two lateral cheeks 23 and 24, and a helical groove 25 shaped on its external cylindrical surface, so that the wire 20 is wound very precisely along said helical groove. This groove makes it possible to obtain a winding precision of the order of 2 mm over a length of unwound wire of 1.20 m. The axis 22 secured to the coil 21 is fixed to one end of a winding return spring 26, the second end of which is secured to the assembly formed by the base 1 and the vertical reference plane 2. The axis 22 is also fixed to the axis of a circular rheostat 27, electrically connected to a transducer 10 (see FIG. 5) which is here an analog-digital converter.

 Thus, a linear displacement of a handle 4, 5, 6, a displacement of the cursor 41 or of the strip 43 is converted into angular displacement of an elastic winding device 7, by winding or unwinding a wire 20. The angular displacement is in turn converted into an analog electrical signal by means of the corresponding rheostat 27, then into a digital signal by the transducer 10.

 The device of the invention further comprises an electric goniometer 14 composed of a substantially parallelepipedal housing 15, containing a circular rheostat, the axis of which extends out of the housing 15 by a rod 16. The goniometer is used to measure the rotation at right or left of the subject's torso; for this, a practitioner holds between his fingers the vertical rod 16, the housing 15 directed downwards, and applies the housing 15 against the subject's sternum. If the subject rotates the torso by an angle 0, the housing 15 and the rheostat it contains rotate by the same angle 0. The rheostat is electrically connected to the transducer 10; it therefore transmits to the transducer 10 an analog electrical signal representative of the angle of rotation of the subject's torso. This analog signal is transformed by the transducer 10 into a digital signal.

 The transducer 10 is connected to a microcomputer 11. The microcomputer 11 conventionally comprises a central unit, a data storage unit such as a floppy drive, a display means such as a screen, and means for input such as a keyboard. The microcomputer 11 is also connected to a printer 12 and to an input handle 17 comprising a contact button 18. A suitable software is loaded on the microcomputer 11.

 During the examination, the software requests the measurement of certain parameters.

The subject must then take a particular position, holding one or two of the handles 4, 5, 6. Or the practitioner applies the goniometer 14 to the subject's sternum, while the subject performs a torso rotation . Either the practitioner places the cursor 41 at a certain height, or else he applies the movable slide 43 against a spinous process of the subject, said subject taking a prescribed position.

 These different actions act on one of the devices 7, 14, which transmits an analog electrical signal to the transducer 10, which itself transforms this analog signal into a digital signal. When the practitioner wants the measurement to be recorded, he presses the button 18 of the grip 17 connected to the microcomputer there; the microcomputer 11 then interrogates the transducer 10 which transmits back to the microcomputer the digital signal representative of the measurement.

During an examination, the software loaded on the microcomputer 11 goes for example through the following steps, represented on the flowchart of FIG. 6:
- enter the patient's identity information using the keyboard (block 31): name,
first name, age, height, weight, gender;
- automatically acquire column displacement values
vertebral thanks to the electrical sensors connected to the three handles 4, 5, 6
(block 32): reference position PR (subject standing back to the reference plane
vertical, handle 4 held in both hands), trunk flexion FT (subject bent over
forward, handle 4 held in both hands), FR spine flexion (subject
leaning forward, pelvis immobilized by device 3, handle 4 held at
two hands), left lateroflexion LFG (subject leaning on its left side,
pelvis immobilized by the device 3, left handle 5 holding the hand
left), right lateroflexion LFD (subject leaning on its right side, pelvis
immobilized by the device 3, right handle 6 held by the right hand);
- enter the subject's locking height on the keyboard (block 33);
- automatically acquire other measurements made with cursor 41
and the movable strip 43 (block 34); for each of these measures, the
practitioner first places the cursor 41 at the desired height and fixes it, for
example using the clamping means 42; it then triggers the acquisition
of a first measurement, corresponding to a first length of wire 20
unwound from the elastic device 6 associated with the slider and the movable strip.

In this position, the end of the slide closest to the subject should be
pushed back to the level of the vertical reference plane 2. Said first measurement
saves the height at which the cursor 41 is placed. The practitioner
then moves the strip 43 horizontally so as to apply it against a
subject's spinous process; it then triggers, using the handle
entry 17, the acquisition of a second measurement, corresponding to a
second length of unwound wire 20; the difference between the first measurement and
the second measurement gives the distance between the subject's spinous process and the
vertical reference plane 2. The measurements thus made can be by
example:
the extension of the spine ER (distance between the xyphoid appendix and the
vertical reference plane 2, when the subject leans back, face
in plan 2, basin immobilized by the device 3),
extension of the trunk AND (distance between the xyphoid appendix and the plane
reference 2, when the subject leans back, facing plane 2,
pelvis immobilized by the device 3);
- acquire automatically with the electric goniometer 14 (block 35)
right and left trunk rotation values, RD and RG respectively
(angle of rotation of the sternal manubrium in the horizontal plane,
respectively right and left ;;
- display on the screen or print a report of the examination (block 36), giving the
measurement values HV, PR, FT, FR, LFU, LFD, ER, ET, RD, RG, as well
than the calculated values of hip flexion FH = FT - FR, extension
hips EH = ET - ER, and rachimetric indices in extension RE =
PR x ER and in flexion RF = PR x FR.

AND SET FT x FT
The results of the exam are broken down into:
a / A balance sheet in a sagittal plane (figure 6), recalling the values of RE (entitled IRex on the graph), RF (IRfl on the graph), PR and HV (RIAS on the graph), and subdivided into two graphs comprising each three columns and a vertical scale from 0 to 10. Each column relates to a measurement; it includes a point representative of a coefficient between 0 and 10, obtained by comparing the measurement with fixed values then by linear interpolation, a point representative of the average value of the measurement, and the clear indication of the value of measure.

The first graph relates to the extension. It includes:
- a column called "sspa" (anterior sub-pelvic area) relating to the
EH hip extension measurement,
- a column called "trunk" relating to the AND measurement,
- a column called "rachi" relating to the ER measurement.

 The three points representative of the measurements are joined by line segments, as are the three points representative of the average values.

The second graph relates to bending. I1 includes:
- a column called "rachi" relating to the FR measurement,
- a column called "trunk" relating to the FT measurement,
- a column called "sspp" (posterior sub-pelvic area) relating to the
EH measurement of hip flexion.

 The three points representative of the measurements are joined by line segments, as are the three points representative of the average values.

 b / A balance in a frontal plane (figure 7), comprising two columns and a vertical scale from 0 to 10. The columns are used according to the same principle as in the sagittal balance. One of the columns relates to the LFG measurement, while the other relates to LFD. The two points representative of the measurements are joined by line segments, as are the two points representative of the average values.

 CI A balance in a horizontal plane (figure 7) comprising two columns and a vertical scale from 0 to 10. The columns are used according to the same principle as in the sagittal balance. One of the columns relates to the measurement of RU, while the other relates to RD. The two points representative of the measurements are joined by line segments, as are the two points representative of the average values.

 This presentation allows a rapid interpretation of the examination by the practitioner. During the preparation of the assessment of the examination are calculated the whole coefficients between 0 and 10 CEXH, CEXT, CEXR, CFLXR, CFLXT, CFLXH, CLFG, CLFD, CRU, CRD, from the respective measurements EH, ET, ER, FR, FT, EH, LFG, LFD, RU, RD. Each of these coefficients is obtained by comparison of the corresponding measurement with fixed values.

Following this assessment, an interpretation of the examination is automatically developed and printed or displayed on the screen (block 37). The diagnosis is carried out by combining together different sentences or parts of sentences prepared in advance and contained in the computer program. This interpretation includes for example the following parts:
- reminder of general data on the patient: surname, first name, sex, age, height,
weight;
- study of the sagittal plane, in flexion; the diagnosis is made from
following criteria: CFLXR - CFLXH, comparison of FR and EH, and
CFLXT;
- study of the sagittal plane, in extension; the diagnosis is made from
following criteria: CEXR - CEXH, comparison of ER and EH, and CEXr;
- interpretation of the offset between flexion and extension of the spine; from
the following criteria: CUIS - CEXR;
- study of the frontal plan; based on the following criteria: LFD and LFG;
- study of the horizontal plane, according to the following criteria: CRD, CRU;
- study of the functioning of the lumbar dorso hinge;
- study of lesions of the mobile lumbar unit, according to the criteria
following: age, CFLXT, CEXT;
- study of the posterior spine; the diagnosis is made based on the criteria
following: CEXR, minimum of CFLG and CFLD, LFG - LED, CFLG
CFLD, maximum of CLFG and CLEF.

Therapeutic proposals are then developed and automatically printed or displayed on the screen (block 38). They are carried out like the diagnosis, by combining different sentences or parts of sentences prepared in advance and contained in the computer program. These proposals break down for example into:
- general prophylaxis;
- rehabilitation of the anterior group (flexion): according to CFLXT and
CFLXR-CFLXH;
- posterior group rehabilitation (extension): depending on CEXT and
CEXR-CEXH.

 In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the adjustable locking means 3 comprise means for measuring the force exerted by the subject on said adjustable means 3. These measuring means may consist, for example, of piezoelectric sensors arranged in pads of support placed on said adjustable means at the points of contact between the iliac spines of the subject and said adjustable means 3. These sensors are connected to the transducer 10, which allows the acquisition by the microcomputer 11 of the measured values. The microcomputer 11 can be provided with software suitable for evaluating the pressures undergone by the subject's vertebral discs during the prescribed movements, on the basis of the values of the measurements made by the piezoelectric sensors.

 In another alternative embodiment of the invention, adapted to measure the mobility of the cervical spine, the strip 43 is hollow, as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 9 and 10. The strip has an internal channel 43a, communicating with the outside of the strip by a lower longitudinal groove extending from the end of the strip closest to the subject to the end furthest from the subject The strip slides in a hollow part of the cursor 41, said hollow part comprising itself a groove corresponding to the groove of the strip, so as to allow the passage in the two grooves of a deflection pulley 55 rotatably mounted on the slider 41, which thus partially penetrates into the channel 43a Thus, the associated wire 20 with the movable strip extends vertically from the elastic winding device 7 associated with the movable strip, to the deflection pulley 55 rotatably mounted on the curs eur 41. Then the wire 20 extends horizontally inside the hollow strip 43 to the end of said strip closest to the subject, where the wire ends with a hook 54.

 As long as the slide is used as previously described, to measure the height of the subject's spinous processes and their distance from the vertical reference plane 2, the hook 54 is fixed to the end of the slide closest to the subject: the device then works exactly as described above.

 When we want to measure the mobility of the subject's cervical spine, we place on its head a cap 50 consisting of a headband 52 on which is fixed a rigid outer circular rim 51, by three rigid radial rods 56. The rim 51 has an outer groove 59. The outer diameter of the rim is for example 40 cm. Advantageously, the headband comprises on the subject's forehead a quick-setting adjustment device 57, in order to adapt its circumference to the subject's head circumference. The radial rods 56 are located respectively at the temples and the back of the subject's skull. On the back of the subject's head and on the subject's front, the rim 51 has attachment points for the hook 54, 53 and 58 respectively.

 The subject places himself on the horizontal base 1, back to the vertical reference plane 2, and the adjustable means 3 are used to immobilize his shoulders. The cursor 41 is placed at the level of the cover 50, the hook 54 is fixed to the point of attachment 53 and the strip 43 is placed in contact with the rim 51, the subject having his head straight. The practitioner then triggers the acquisition by the microcomputer 11 of a first measurement of the unwound length of wire 20. The subject must then tilt his head as far forward as possible in the sagittal plane by driving the wire 20 attached to the cap 50. The practitioner then triggers the acquisition of a second measurement of the length of the unwound wire length 20, the difference of which with the first measurement gives a value of flexion of the cervical spine. In the same way, we measure the right and left lateral flexion of the cervical spine by tilting the subject's head to the right and left in the frontal plane, and we measure the rotate right and left by rotating the subject's head right and left in a horizontal plane. During the measurement of the right and left rotation, the wire 20 is wound in the groove 59 of the rim 51 when the subject turns his head; the outside diameter of the rim 51 being in memory of the microcomputer 11, the software loaded in the microcomputer 11 can therefore translate the length of wire 20 unwound during this movement into an angle of rotation. After these measurements, the subject is placed facing the reference plane 2, the shoulders immobilized by the adjustable means 3, and the hook 54 is hooked to the attachment point 58 of the cover 50. The strip 43 is first placed against the rim 51 when the subject holds his head straight, and the practitioner triggers the acquisition of a first length of unrolled wire 20. Then the subject must tilt his head back as far as possible, in the sagittal plane; the practitioner then triggers the acquisition of a second measurement of unwound length of wire 20, the difference of which with the first measurement gives a value of extension of the cervical spine.

Claims (13)

Claims  1.- Device for studying the mobility of the spine in the frontal plane and the sagittal plane, comprising a horizontal base (1) on which a subject to be examined takes a standing position, a vertical reference plane (2) integral with the base (1), provided with adjustable locking means (3) for immobilizing in particular the pelvis or the thighs of the subject and a vertical slot (40) in which slides a slider (41) associated with a movable strip (43) comprising one end close to the subject and one end distant from the subject, a first handle (4) in front of the subject, a second handle (5) to the left of the subject, and a third handle (6) to the right of the subject, characterized in that said handles (4, 5, 6) are each connected to a wire wound on an elastic device (7), integral with the assembly formed by the horizontal base (1) and the vertical reference plane (2) and comprising a electric sensor measuring the length of unwound wire when said subject performs various prescribed movements while keeping a handle in hand, and in that the electrical sensors are connected to a transducer (10) connected to a microcomputer (11) provided with a printer (12) and using software suitable for the acquisition and storage of measured values, as well as the display or printing of a results sheet, interpretation of the examination and therapeutic proposals.  2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the end of the movable strip (43) furthest from the subject to be examined is provided with a wire (20) winding on an elastic device (7) integral of the assembly formed by the horizontal base (1) and the vertical reference plane (2) and comprising an electric sensor measuring the length of unwound wire when the cursor (41) or the movable strip (43) are moved.  3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that from said end of the movable strip (43), the wire (20) extends horizontally to a return pulley (44) rotating around an axis integral with the cursor (41), then vertically up to the elastic winding device (7).  4.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable strip (43) is provided with an internal channel (43a) and comprises a wire (20) sliding inside said channel, a first end of the wire ( 20) comprising a hook (54), a second end of the wire (20) winding on an elastic device (7) integral with the assembly formed by the base (1) and the vertical reference plane (2), the elastic device comprising an electrical sensor measuring the length of unwound wire, and in that a cap (50) comprising an outer circular rim (51) is placed on the subject's head, said rim (51) having attachment points (53, 58) for hooking the hook (54) and an external groove (59) allowing the winding of the wire (20).  5.- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the hollow channel (43a) of the movable strip (43) communicates with the outside at least by a lower longitudinal groove extending from the end of the strip closest to the subject to the end of the strip furthest from the subject, and in that the cursor (41) comprises a rotary pulley penetrating inside the hollow channel (43a) by said groove, so that the wire (20) extends horizontally inside the channel (43a) from the hook (54) to the pulley (55) of the slider, then vertically to the elastic winding device (7).  6.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the electrical sensors measuring the length of unwound wire are circular rheostats (27).  7.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the elastic winding devices (7) each consist of a cylindrical coil (21) secured to an axis (22) fixed at one end a winding return spring (26), the second end of which is integral with the assembly formed by the base (1) and the vertical reference plane (2), said axis (22) being further fixed to the axis of the circular rheostat (27).  8.- Device according to claim 7, further characterized in that each cylindrical coil (21) has a helical groove (25) shaped on its outer cylindrical surface, so that the wire (20) is wound along said helical groove (25).  9.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transducer (10) is also connected to an electric goniometer (14) consisting of a housing (15) containing an electric rotation measurement sensor provided an axis extending out of said housing (15) by a rod (16), said rod being intended to be held by a practitioner by applying the housing (15) against the sternum of the subject to be examined, so as to measure the rotation of the bust of said subject in a horizontal plane.  10.- Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the electric sensor of the electric goniometer (14) is a circular rheostat.  11.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustable locking means (3) comprise means for measuring the force exerted by the subject on said adjustable locking means, during the various movements. prescribed.  12.- Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said measuring means are piezoclectric sensors arranged in bearing pads placed at the points of contact between the iliac spines of the subject and the adjustable locking means (3), said piezoelectric sensors being connected to the transducer (10).  13.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a grip (17) provided with a contact button (18) is connected to the microcomputer (11) so that when the software loaded on the microcomputer (11) requests a measurement, once the subject is in the prescribed position and one of the elastic devices (7) has been actuated as desired, or that the goniometer has been actuated desired manner, the practitioner triggers the acquisition of the measurement by the microcomputer (11) by pressing the button (18) of the grip (17).