GB2450472A - Evaluating muscular strength and injuries associated with the neck and spinal column - Google Patents
Evaluating muscular strength and injuries associated with the neck and spinal column Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2450472A GB2450472A GB0710131A GB0710131A GB2450472A GB 2450472 A GB2450472 A GB 2450472A GB 0710131 A GB0710131 A GB 0710131A GB 0710131 A GB0710131 A GB 0710131A GB 2450472 A GB2450472 A GB 2450472A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- force
- person
- spinal column
- measurement
- neck
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000003387 muscular Effects 0.000 title claims description 24
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 title claims description 16
- 210000003205 muscle Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 45
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 30
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 claims description 15
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000000418 atomic force spectrum Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 208000028373 Neck injury Diseases 0.000 claims description 3
- 210000004237 neck muscle Anatomy 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 abstract description 17
- 208000021567 Whiplash injury Diseases 0.000 abstract description 8
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012549 training Methods 0.000 description 3
- 206010071366 Post-traumatic neck syndrome Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 235000004443 Ricinus communis Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 240000000528 Ricinus communis Species 0.000 description 2
- 206010039203 Road traffic accident Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 208000020339 Spinal injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000037265 diseases, disorders, signs and symptoms Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000035475 disorder Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000003041 ligament Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000005036 nerve Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000003019 stabilising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/103—Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
- A61B5/11—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/22—Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow
- A61B5/224—Measuring muscular strength
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Physiology (AREA)
- Dentistry (AREA)
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
- Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
Abstract
An arrangement for evaluating the condition (e.g. strength) of the muscles associated with the neck and spinal column of a person is described. The apparatus includes force measuring pads 24 that measure the force applied by the head of the person being tested. The test is repeated and a profile of forces applied to the pads (fig 4) is used to assess, amongst other things, whiplash injuries. The assessment includes comparing the two or more tests carried out and comparing the test result to an expected profile for a healthy person having similar physical characteristics.
Description
-1-2450472 A method and aaratus for evaluating muscular strength arid
iniuries associated with the spinal column The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating the muscular strength and extent of injuries to the spinal column, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to determining the presence and extent of whiplash injuries.
Whiplash injuries, that is an injury to the muscles, ligaments, vertebrae or nerves in the cervical spine, typically caused by sudden movement of the head for example as a result of an automobile accident or sporting injury, cause a significant number of associated disorders including pain, restricted movement and depression.
At present, assessment the presence or extent of whiplash injuries is extremely difficult and is generally undertaken by asking a patient a number of qualitative questions. Since whiplash injuries often result from the rapid acceleration or deceleration in automobile accidents, such injuries can be used as the basis of an insurance claim. Furthermore, assessment of a patient's recovery from such an injury is also difficult to assess. Similarly in sports training it is difficult to quantify the results of training of the muscles associated the neck and spine.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome disadvantages of the prior art, including, but not limited to, those set out above.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of evaluating muscular strength associated with a spinal column of a person, the method comprising:-measuring a force that can be applied to at least one force measuring device by muscles associated with a spinal column of a person to produce at least one respective first measurement; repeating said measuring step to produce at least one respective second measurement; and comparing at least one first and at least one second measurement.
By repeating the muscular strength measuring tests it is possible to evaluate whether the person being tested is genuinely putting as much effort as they can into the test. If a subject of the test is attempting to suggest that their neck muscles associated with the spine are unable to apply as much force as they really can, it is unlikely that they will be able to accurately reproduce these weaker test results. This information can be used to assess the presence or extent of a spinal/neck injury.
The force is preferably measured in a plurality of directions.
By getting the subject of the test to apply the force in a first direction and then in a different direction, typically in total in four perpendicular directions, it is significantly more difficult for a person attempting to indicate that the strength they are able to apply with the neck is less than it really is. This is because when the muscles of the neck have been used to move the head in a different direction they are less able to reproduce the exactly the same controlled movement in the first direction.
In a preferred embodiment said first and second measurements are taken substantially continuously over a period of time.
In another preferred embodiment said first and second measurements are processed to produce first and second force profiles measured against time and wherein said first and second profiles are compared.
By measuring the force over a short period of time and creating force vs. time profiles, the advantage is provided that extra information can be obtained. For example different shapes of profile can indicate a subject deliberately not applying as much effort as they can to the load cell.
The method may further comprise restraining adjacent the chest and/or shoulders of said person to evaluate the muscular strength associated with the cervical region of said spinal column.
By restraining the chest and shoulders the advantage is provided that the cervical portion of the spine can be isolated so that the strength being measured is only the strength associated with that part of the spine.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of assessing injuries associated with a spinal column of a person, comprising the steps of:-evaluating the muscular strength associated with a spinal column of a person as defined above; and determining whether the results of the comparison of the first and second measurements indicate at least one of the presence and extent of an injury associated with said spinal column.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of evaluating muscular strength associated with a spinal column of a person, the method comprising: -obtaining data relating to a person; determining an expected force that said person should be able to apply to at least one force measuring device by muscles associated a spinal column of said person to produce an expected measurement; measuring a force that can be applied to at least one force measuring device by muscles associated with said spinal column to produce at least one first measurement; and comparing said first measurement and said expected measurement.
By comparing the produced force on a cell by the spine, and in particular the neck, with an expected force based on data obtained about the subject of the test, it is possible to determine whether the subject is able to apply the fully expected force to the cell. This can in turn be used to determine whether an injury has occurred to the subject and can be used to assess recovery of such injuries. The method can also be used for training, for example where sports people are interested in increasing the strength in their neck this method can be used to evaluate increased performance.
The force is preferably measured in a plurality of directions.
In a preferred embodiment the or each first measurement are taken substantially continuously over a period of time.
In another preferred embodiment said first is processed to produce a first force profile against time and said expected measurement is an expected force profile.
The method may further comprise measuring a force that can be applied to at least one force measuring device by the head of said person to produce at least one second measurement and further comparing at least one first and at least one second measurement.
By combining the tests of comparing the muscular strength with expected strength and the subject's ability to reproduce the results, the advantage is provided that a significant evaluation of the presence of an injury can be determined, as can the subject's recovery or improved muscular performance.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of assessing injuries relating to the neck, comprising the steps of:-evaluating the muscular strength of the neck as defined above; and determining whether the results of the or each comparison indicate at least one of the presence and extent of a neck injury.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for evaluating muscular strength in a neck, the apparatus comprising:-force measuring means for measuring a force that can be applied by a head of a person using their neck muscles; and processing means for processing said measurements.
In a preferred embodiment said force measuring means measures said force in four directions around said person's head.
The force measuring means may comprise at least one load cell.
The apparatus may further comprise restraining means for restraining the person's movement, the restraining means adapted to engage adjacent one or both of the chest and shoulders of the person.
The apparatus may also comprise leg and/or foot support means being free to move in a least one direction.
In a preferred embodiment said processing means comprises at least one computer.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the steps involved in a method of the present invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an apparatus 10 for evaluating the muscular strength associated with the spinal column of a person 12 has a frame 14 within which the person 12 is located for testing. The frame 14 is supported on a base plate 16. A seat 18 on which the person 12 sits is placed on base plate 16 and the weight of the chair 18 and patient 12 assist in stabilising the frame 14. When an apparatus of this type is used to assess cervical muscular strength, restraining arms 20 are located around the patient's chest so as to isolate the movement of their upper body. An array 22 of four load cells 24 are located around the patient's head 26 and measure the force applied to them by the head 26. The measurements taken by these load cells are relayed to a processor, typically a computer (not shown) which processes the measurements taken by the load cells to provide an indication of the strength associated with the spinal column, and in this instance the cervical portion of the spine. The apparatus also includes a footstool 28 which is able to freely move on castors 30.
Referring to Eigure 3 at step Si, patient data, such as age and gender, is recorded and this data used to assess the expected muscular strength which they should be able to apply to the array 22 of load cells 24. At step S2, the patient 12 is placed within apparatus 10. The height of chair 18 is adjusted so that the patient's head 26 is located within the array 22 of load cells 24 and they can apply a force to the load cells 24. The patient 12 is restrained using the restraints 20 to isolate their movement to only part of the spinal column. The height of the chest restraints 20 can be altered in order to allow a longer or shorter portion of the spinal column to be tested. Typically restraint of the chest or shoulders limits movement to testing of the neck. The patient's feet are rested on footstool 28. Because footstool 28 is free to move on castors 30, the patient is unable to gain any grip on the floor, thereby eliminating their legs from any force they are able to apply to the load cells 24 using their head.
At step S3, the first direction in which the patient 12 will move their head is selected. At step S4, the patient 12 is asked to apply as much force as they can to the load cell and the measurement of that force is taken at step S4. The patient 12 is asked to apply that force for a predetermined period of time and the force is measured at consecutive time intervals within that period. At step S5 it is determined whether a measurement has been taken in each direction on each of the load cells and if this is not the case at step S6, the next load cell is selected. The measurement of force is repeated at step S4 for each of the load cells until they have all taken measurements. At step S7, it is determined whether all of the required repetitions of the measurements have been taken and if this is not the case, an additional set of measurements is taken at step S8 with the first direction being selected at step S3. Steps S4, S5 and S6 are repeated until all of the load cells have taken force measurements for the required number of repetitions. The results of the measurements are compared at step S9 Referring to Figure 4, data collected from a series of three consecutive measurements is displayed on a graph of force against time. This is therefore three sets of measurements taken during a single testing session on a single patient. The graphs labelled right force and left force, representing the force applied by the patient's head in a left and right direction, show reasonable consistency over the three tests.
This therefore suggests that this represents the maximum force that the patient is able to apply in these directions.
However, in the graphs labelled forward force and backward force, it can be seen that in one of the tests in each case a significantly greater force was applied to the load cell than in the others. In the absence of any comments made by the patient, by way of an explanation, this can be taken to indicate that the patient is not attempting to apply the full possible force to the load cell. This could be the case if they are attempting to fake or over-exaggerate an injury. This analysis is shown as step Sb in Figure 3.
In an alternative or additional analysis, the individual measurements, or an average of the measurements taken is compared to an expected measurement (step Sli) which can be estimated on the basis of the patient data gathered at step Si.
This data which would typically include patient age and sex may also include patient height, spinal length or height in a seated position, neck circumference. This data can be used to produce an expected profile of the type shown in Figure 4.
Such profiles can be obtained experimentally by testing people without whiplash injuries. Such experiments can provide a typical expected force that can be applied together with an acceptable variance from that force. As a result, a patient who is unable to apply a force to an expected level for a person fitting their profile may therefore have a whiplash injury.
It can therefore be seen that by applying both of these tests at the same time, a patient who is unable to apply a force to the expected level for their personal characteristics and produces this force consistently shows a reasonable likelihood of whiplash injury. This is the analysis step Sb.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (21)
- Claims 1. A method of evaluating muscular strength associated with aspinal column of a person, the method comprising:-measuring a force that can be applied to at least one force measuring device by muscles associated with a spinal column of a person to produce at least one respective first measurement; repeating said measuring step to produce at least one respective second measurement; and comparing at least one first and at least one second measurement.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said force is measured in a plurality of directions.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second measurements are taken substantially Continuously over a period of time.
- 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said first and second measurements are processed to produce first and second force profiles measured against time and wherein said first and second profiles are compared.
- 5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising restraining adjacent the chest and/or shoulders of said person to evaluate the muscular strength associated with the cervical region of said spinal column.
- 6. A method of evaluating muscular strength associated with a spinal column of a person substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- 7. A method of assessing injuries associated with a spinal column of a person, comprising the steps of:-evaluating the muscular strength associated with a spinal column of a person according to any one of the preceding claims; and determining whether the results of the comparison of the first and second measurements indicate at least one of the presence and extent of an injury associated with said spinal column.
- 8. A method of evaluating muscular strength associated with a spinal column of a person, the method comprising:-obtaining data relating to a person; determining an expected force that said person should be able to apply to at least one force measuring device by muscles associated a spinal column of said person to produce an expected measurement; measuring a force that can be applied to at least one force measuring device by muscles associated with said spinal column to produce at least one first measurement; and comparing said first measurement and said expected measurement.
- 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said force is measured in a plurality of directions.
- 10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the or each first measurement are taken substantially continuously over a period of time.
- 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said first is processed to produce a first force profile against time and said expected measurement is an expected force profile.
- 12. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising measuring a force that can be applied to at least one force measuring device by the head of said person to produce at least one second measurement and further comparing at least one first and at least one second measurement.
- 13. A method of evaluating muscular strength in a neck substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- 14. A method of assessing injuries relating to the neck, comprising the steps of:-evaluating the muscular strength of the neck according to any one of claims 8 to 13; and determining whether the results of the or each comparison indicate at least one of the presence and extent of a neck injury.
- 15. An apparatus for evaluating muscular strength in a neck, the apparatus comprising:-force measuring means for measuring a force that can be applied by a head of a person using their neck muscles; and processing means for processing said measurements.
- 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said force measuring means measures said force in four directions around said person's head.
- 17. An apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said force measuring means comprises at least one load cell.
- 18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising restraining means for restraining the person's movement, the restraining means adapted to engage adjacent one or both of the chest and shoulders of the person.
- 19. An apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 18, further comprising leg and/or foot support means being free to move in a least one direction.
- 20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein said processing means comprises at least one computer.
- 21. An apparatus for evaluating muscular strength in a neck substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0710131A GB2450472A (en) | 2007-05-26 | 2007-05-26 | Evaluating muscular strength and injuries associated with the neck and spinal column |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0710131A GB2450472A (en) | 2007-05-26 | 2007-05-26 | Evaluating muscular strength and injuries associated with the neck and spinal column |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0710131D0 GB0710131D0 (en) | 2007-07-04 |
| GB2450472A true GB2450472A (en) | 2008-12-31 |
Family
ID=38265413
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0710131A Withdrawn GB2450472A (en) | 2007-05-26 | 2007-05-26 | Evaluating muscular strength and injuries associated with the neck and spinal column |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2450472A (en) |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5997440A (en) * | 1997-09-29 | 1999-12-07 | Hanoun; Reed | Cervical muscle evaluation apparatus |
| US6325767B1 (en) * | 1998-09-08 | 2001-12-04 | Hartmut Wolff | Strength measuring device for the measurement of muscle strength of singular muscle groups of an individual |
| WO2002089923A1 (en) * | 2001-05-10 | 2002-11-14 | Physiotech Aps | Apparatus for cervical region diagnostics and training |
| WO2004043257A1 (en) * | 2002-11-13 | 2004-05-27 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Device for the diagnosis and/or therapy of functional disorders of the cervical spine |
| WO2005028034A1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2005-03-31 | The University Of Queensland | Assessment apparatus and method |
| JP2005211420A (en) * | 2004-01-30 | 2005-08-11 | Og Giken Co Ltd | Cervical vertebra muscle force measuring instrument |
-
2007
- 2007-05-26 GB GB0710131A patent/GB2450472A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5997440A (en) * | 1997-09-29 | 1999-12-07 | Hanoun; Reed | Cervical muscle evaluation apparatus |
| US6325767B1 (en) * | 1998-09-08 | 2001-12-04 | Hartmut Wolff | Strength measuring device for the measurement of muscle strength of singular muscle groups of an individual |
| WO2002089923A1 (en) * | 2001-05-10 | 2002-11-14 | Physiotech Aps | Apparatus for cervical region diagnostics and training |
| WO2004043257A1 (en) * | 2002-11-13 | 2004-05-27 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Device for the diagnosis and/or therapy of functional disorders of the cervical spine |
| WO2005028034A1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2005-03-31 | The University Of Queensland | Assessment apparatus and method |
| JP2005211420A (en) * | 2004-01-30 | 2005-08-11 | Og Giken Co Ltd | Cervical vertebra muscle force measuring instrument |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0710131D0 (en) | 2007-07-04 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Schlenstedt et al. | Comparing the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale with the Mini-BESTest and Berg Balance Scale to assess postural control in patients with Parkinson disease | |
| Zemp et al. | Seat pan and backrest pressure distribution while sitting in office chairs | |
| Sole et al. | Test-retest reliability of isokinetic knee extension and flexion | |
| López-Miñarro et al. | Influence of hamstring muscle extensibility on spinal curvatures in young athletes | |
| Goodsell et al. | Short-term effects of lumbar posteroanterior mobilization in individuals with low-back pain | |
| Quinzaños et al. | Proposal and validation of a clinical trunk control test in individuals with spinal cord injury | |
| Berardi et al. | The validity of rasterstereography as a technological tool for the objectification of postural assessment in the clinical and educational fields: pilot study | |
| Park et al. | Reliability and validity of a new method for isometric back extensor strength evaluation using a hand-held dynamometer | |
| Benavent-Caballer et al. | Factors associated with the 6-minute walk test in nursing home residents and community-dwelling older adults | |
| Wittwer et al. | Test–retest reliability of spatial and temporal gait parameters of people with Alzheimer's disease | |
| Shirley et al. | The relationship between submaximal activity of the lumbar extensor muscles and lumbar posteroanterior stiffnesss | |
| Savage et al. | Whole-body vibration and occupational physical performance: a review | |
| Suryanarayana et al. | Quantification of isometric cervical strength at different ranges of flexion and extension | |
| Petersson et al. | Lumbar interspinous pressure pain threshold values for healthy young men and women and the effect of prolonged fully flexed lumbar sitting posture: An observational study | |
| Özüdoğru et al. | Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test in people with non-specific chronic low back pain—a cross-sectional test–retest reliability study | |
| Khan et al. | Inter-rater reliability of pressure biofeedback unit among individuals with and without chronic low back pain | |
| Pitcher et al. | Reliability of electromyographic and force measures during prone isometric back extension in subjects with and without low back pain | |
| Alshehri et al. | Trunk postural control during unstable sitting among individuals with and without low back pain: A systematic review with an individual participant data meta-analysis | |
| Spagnuolo et al. | Are functional mobility tests responsive to group physical therapy intervention in individuals with Parkinson’s disease? | |
| Owens Jr et al. | The reliability of a posterior-to-anterior spinal stiffness measuring system in a population of patients with low back pain | |
| Vincent et al. | Seat comfort as a function of occupant characteristics and pressure measurements at the occupant-seat interface | |
| Strimpakos et al. | Objective measurements of neck function. A critical review of their validity and reliability | |
| GB2450472A (en) | Evaluating muscular strength and injuries associated with the neck and spinal column | |
| Morris et al. | Reliability of dynamometry to quantify isometric strength following traumatic brain injury | |
| US7922622B2 (en) | Method for improving strength, flexibility, and coordination |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |