JP3967823B2 - Quadriceps muscle strength measurement device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a quadriceps muscle strength measuring apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus that can easily measure the muscle strength of a quadriceps muscle of a subject on a bed or an examination table.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there has been no device that can easily measure the strength of the quadriceps of a subject on a bed or on an examination table.
The quadriceps muscle is a muscle at the front of the thigh, and is an important muscle for a person to stand up and stabilize the knee. Sleeping in the bed for a long time, and the elderly with weakness in the quadriceps muscles may make it difficult to stand up or walk. In order to determine the muscular strength of a person with such weak muscle strength, a doctor has conventionally performed a clinical test called MMT (manual muscle test) and made a judgment by looking at the state of the subject. This test is based on the subject's observation, such as 5 points when exercising against the maximum resistance applied at the end of the range of motion, 3 points when exercising against gravity, and 0 when not contracting at all. To 5 points.
However, this judgment method is a rough judgment by a doctor observing the subject visually or by palpation, and does not represent muscle strength as an objective numerical value, and the subject has a reproducible numerical value. Could not be grasped as.
[0003]
Further, there is an apparatus called CYBEX (trade name, muscle strength evaluation training apparatus of CYBEX, USA) as an apparatus that can measure the muscle strength of the quadriceps. This device is a device in which the subject is seated in a special chair, the upper body is fixed with a seat belt so that only the knee can be extended and bent, and the knee is bent and extended to measure the speed and torque at that time. . The muscular strength of the quadriceps can be measured by the torque when the knee is extended.
However, this device is a large-scale device in which a special chair and a device for measuring knee flexion / extension are integrated, and is usually a device installed in a corner of a measurement room and attached by a specialized operator. For this reason, in order to measure the muscular strength, it was necessary for the subject to go to the measurement room and have a specialized operator measure it. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is not possible to easily measure the muscular strength of the subject on the medical table or on the bed. Moreover, since the apparatus is large and expensive, it has not been possible to introduce this apparatus in any hospital.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable device that can easily measure the strength of the quadriceps of the subject on the examination table or on the bed. It is.
In addition to the object of the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of measuring the muscle strength of the quadriceps more accurately.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an ankle support that is slidably supported on a base and slidable in the horizontal direction and can fix an ankle portion of a lower limb. A knee support base that is fixed on the base and is in contact with and supports the back of the knee of the lower limb; a knee height adjusting means that enables the height of the knee support base to be adjusted; and the knee sole A load detection unit that detects a load applied to the support base and a measurement value display device that displays the load detected by the load detection unit are provided.
Here, the knee-back height adjusting means is a means for adjusting the height of the knee-back support that contacts the knee-back portion of the lower limb and supports the pressing force from the lower limb. And the link mechanism to adjust the height of the knee support base, or interpose the knee height adjustment plate between the knee support base and the base so that the knee height adjustment plate has a different thickness. This means all means for changing the height of the knee support, such as the method of replacing it with an object.
Here, the load detection means is a means for detecting a load in which the knee sole of the lower limb presses the knee support base downward. Specifically, a load meter using a spring balance or a strain gauge is used. This means all the means for detecting the load applied to the knee support, such as the load cell used.
[0006]
If formed in this way, the muscle strength of the subject's quadriceps muscles can be easily measured on the examination table or on the bed. In other words, the subject sits on the bed and stands up with the upper body up and the lower limbs thrown forward. Then, the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device according to the present invention is placed on the bed and placed on the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device with one of the lower limbs, for example, the right foot bent slightly. At this time, the knee is placed on the back support so that the center of the knee joint coincides with the center of the back support, and the ankle is fixed to the ankle support. Since the ankle support is supported on the base so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction, the ankle support is slid according to the length of the lower limb of the subject to fix the ankle portion. Next, the height of the knee support is adjusted by the knee sole height adjusting means, and the bending angle of the slightly bent knee is adjusted to a predetermined constant value, for example, 15 degrees.
In this posture, when the subject fully extends the knee, the back of the knee presses the back of the knee support with a force corresponding to the strength of the quadriceps. The pressing force is detected by the load detecting means and displayed on the measured value display device. The load displayed on the measured value display device is suitable for evaluating the strength of the quadriceps muscles. If the knee flexion angle placed on the back support base is kept at a predetermined constant value for each measurement, The load displayed on the measurement value display device indicates a reproducible measurement value.
[0007]
Here, as in the invention according to claim 2, the measurement value display device subtracts the load applied to the knee support in a state where no force is applied to the lower limb from the load applied to the knee support during measurement. An offset amount correcting means for displaying can be provided.
When formed in this way, the lower limb is placed on the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device according to the present invention and the knee support base is pressed downward by the weight of the lower limb itself in a state where the subject does not apply force to the lower limb. The load is corrected as an offset amount, and only the load corresponding to the muscle strength of the quadriceps generated when the force is applied to extend the lower limb is displayed on the measurement value display device, and the muscle strength of the quadriceps is measured more accurately. can do.
Here, as the offset amount correction means, a microcomputer is provided in the measurement value display device, the microcomputer includes an empty load storage means for storing a load detected in a state where no force is applied to the lower limb, and a lower limb. Easily realized by including a calculation means for subtracting the load stored in the empty load storage means from a load detected in the state of applying force, and a measurement value display means for displaying the load calculated by the calculation means it can.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
2 is a plan view of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view, and FIG. 4 is a front view.
The base 1 is a rectangular plate-like member, and two rectangular recesses 1A and 1B are formed on the upper surface. The base 1 is made of light weight wood or aluminum. Two slide bars 2 and 2 made of round bars are installed in the front recess 1A in the front-rear direction. A block-shaped ankle support 3 having an upper surface having a hook shape guided by the slide rods 2 and 2 is mounted on the base 1 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. Most of the ankle support 3 is made of a hard urethane resin, and only the surface portion that comes into contact with the ankle is made of a soft urethane resin. An ankle fastening band 4 for fastening the subject's ankle is attached to the ankle support 3. One surface of the ankle fastening band 4 is a velcro tape, and the ankle portion of the subject is fastened or released by adhesive peeling of the velcro tape portion.
[0009]
On the other hand, the strain gauge load detectors 9, 9, 9, 9 are disposed at the four corners of the recess 1B on the rear side of the base 1, and the plate-like knee support is fitted on the recess 1B so as to fit into the recess 1B. A base 10 is provided. The knee-back height adjusting plates 7 and 8 are laminated on the center part of the knee-back support base 10, and further, a block-like knee-back support base 6 whose upper surface has a hook shape is placed thereon. The knee support base 10 and the knee height adjustment plates 7 and 8 are each made of a hard urethane resin. Further, most of the knee support 6 is made of a hard urethane resin, and only the surface portion that contacts the knee back is made of a soft urethane resin. Velcro is adhered and fixed to the entire upper surface of the knee support base 10, the upper and lower surfaces of the knee height adjusting plates 7 and 8, and the lower surface of the knee support base 6, respectively. The members 6, 7, and 8 stacked on the knee support base 10 can be fixed to each other or separated from each other by adhesive peeling between the portions.
The four strain gauge load detectors 9, 9, 9, 9 constitute a load detection means for detecting a load applied to the knee support base 6.
[0010]
Knee back height adjustment plates 7 and 8 are prepared in various plate thicknesses, and by selecting and combining knee back height adjustment plates 7 and 8 having appropriate plate thicknesses, the height of the knee back support base 6 can be selected. To be adjusted. The knee-back height adjusting plates 7 and 8 constitute knee-back height adjusting means that can adjust the height of the knee-back supporting base 6.
[0011]
A measurement value display device 5 is arranged in front of the right hand of the base 1. The measured value display device 5 is provided with a display unit 51 made of liquid crystal and displaying a measured value, a reset button 52, and a setting button 53. The measurement value display device 5 includes a microcomputer, which calculates the total of the loads detected by the strain gauge load detectors 9, 9, 9, 9 at the four corners and displays it on the display unit 51. When the reset button 52 is pressed, the load at that time is stored in the empty load storage means in the microcomputer and the display 51 is temporarily set to 0 (Kg). Thereafter, the strain gauge load detector 9 detects the load. The load obtained by subtracting the load stored in the empty load storage means from the generated load is displayed on the display unit 51. The procedure in the microcomputer constitutes an offset amount correcting means.
[0012]
The setting button 53 is used when this quadriceps muscle strength measuring device is used as a training device for improving the quadriceps muscle strength, and an appropriate numerical value (for example, 50 kg) is given to the display unit 51 by the setting button 53. Once set, after that, the subject puts force to extend the lower limb and presses the knee support 6 with the back of the knee, and each time the load reaches a set value (for example, 50 kg), the number of times is displayed on the display unit. The procedure in the microcomputer is configured to display on 51.
The power source of the microcomputer and the display unit 51 is a battery (not shown), and since the battery is built in the measurement value display device 5, there is no need to pull a cord from a commercial power source. However, the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device can be carried.
[0013]
Two base support rods 12, 12 are inserted into the horizontal holes 1 </ b> C, 1 </ b> C of the base 1 and attached to the rear end of the base 1. The base support rods 12 and 12 are used by pulling backward from the base 1 as shown in the figure when using this quadriceps muscle strength measuring device, and the effective length of the base 1 is made longer than the base body to increase the moment. When the subject applies force to fix the ankle and extend the lower limb, the front end of the base 1 is prevented from being lifted. When the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device is not used, the base support rods 12 and 12 are slid and stored in the holes 1C and 1C to facilitate carrying the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device.
[0014]
Mounting holes 13 and 14 for standing the knee position indicator rod 11 are provided on the left and right sides of the knee support base 6 on the base 1. The positions of the mounting holes 13 and 14 are provided so as to be on the center line of the heel shape of the knee support base 6 with which the knee back contacts. When the subject's lower limb is placed on the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device and the back of the knee is brought into close contact with the back of the knee support base 6, the knee position indicator bar 11 has a heel shape of the back support base 6. It is an indicator bar that guides you to be on the center line. 3 and 4, the knee position indicator bar 11 stands in the right mounting hole 13. When the knee position indicator rod 11 is erected in the right mounting hole 13, the muscle strength of the right lower limb is measured. This is because the knee position indicator bar 11 does not get in the way when the right lower limb is moved onto the device from the left side of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device. When measuring the muscle strength of the left lower limb, the knee position indicator rod 11 is placed in the left mounting hole 14.
[0015]
Based on the above configuration, the method of use and operation will be described.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a usage state of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device. The subject 20 sits on the bed 30 and raises the upper body so that the lower limbs are thrown forward. In the figure, 21 is a vertebra, 22 is a femur, 23 is a lower leg bone, 24 is a patella (elbow), 25 is a quadriceps muscle, and one tendon 26 connected to the quadriceps muscle 25 is a patella 24. The upper leg is attached to the lower leg bone 23.
[0016]
The subject 20 is seated on the bed 30, the upper body is raised and the lower limb is thrown forward, the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device according to the present invention is placed on the bed 30, and one of the lower limbs, for example, under the right foot Slide in. At this time, with the knee of the right foot slightly bent, the back of the knee is placed on the back support base 6, and the thigh is viewed by looking at the knee position indicator bar 11 so that the center of the knee joint coincides with the center of the back support base 6. The front-rear position of the base 1 of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device is adjusted. When the front and rear positions of the base 1 are determined, the base support rods 12 and 12 are pulled out fully backwards.
[0017]
Then, the ankle is placed on the ankle support 3. Since the ankle support 3 is supported on the base 1 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction, the ankle support 3 slides according to the length of the lower limb of the subject 20 and is moved to an appropriate position to fix the ankle. . As a result, the lower limb of the subject is supported by the knee support base 6 and the ankle support base 3. Next, the bending angle of the knee slightly bent by the knee support base 6 and the ankle support base 3 is measured by a goniometer (a kind of angle meter), and whether it is a predetermined constant value, for example, 15 degrees or not. Confirm. If the predetermined constant value is not reached, the height of the knee support base 6 is adjusted by replacing the knee height adjustment plates 7 and 8 under the knee support base 6 with ones having different thicknesses. The bend angle is adjusted to a predetermined constant value, for example, 15 degrees. Since the connection between the knee support 6 and the knee height adjusting plates 7 and 8 depends on the velcro, they can be easily attached and detached. When the adjustment of the knee flexion angle is completed, the ankle portion is fastened and fixed to the ankle support 3 by the ankle fastening band 4.
[0018]
In this state, the load number Kg corresponding to the weight of the lower limb is displayed on the display unit 51 of the measurement value display device 5. Therefore, when the reset button 52 is pressed, the load is stored as an offset amount in the microcomputer in the measurement value display device 5 and the display on the display unit 51 is reset to 0 kg. Then, when the subject fully stretches the knee in this posture, the back of the knee presses the knee support 6 with a force corresponding to the strength of the quadriceps 25, as indicated by the arrow F in the figure. . The pressing force is detected by the four strain gauge load detectors 9 and is displayed on the display unit 51 of the measured value display device 5 as a value obtained by subtracting the offset amount corresponding to the weight of the lower limb. The load displayed on the display unit 51 directly corresponds to the muscular strength of the quadriceps 25, and the bending angle of the knee placed on the knee support 6 for each measurement is a predetermined constant value (for example, 15 degrees). If it keeps in this, the display part 51 can display the reproducible measured value corresponding to the muscular strength of quadriceps 25.
[0019]
Here, when trying to extend the quadriceps muscle 25, a force to pull up the ankle fastening band 4 is applied to try to raise the front end of the base 1 upward. The front end of the base 1 is not lifted because it is pulled out to the rear and the effective length behind the base 1 is long.
Further, when measuring the strength of the quadriceps 25, if the upper body of the subject 20 falls forward, a part of the upper body load is applied to the knee support 6, so the subject should be careful not to tilt the upper body. There is a need. For this reason, it is also effective to prepare something like a sitting chair and keep the subject's back against the backrest so that it stands upright.
[0020]
The method for measuring muscle strength with the quadriceps muscle strength measurement device according to the present invention has been described above, but the present device can also be used as a muscle strength training device for quadriceps muscles. The method will be described.
Similar to the case of measuring the muscular strength, the back of the lower limb of the subject is placed on the knee support 6 and the ankle is placed on the ankle support 3. Then, the height of the knee support base 6 is adjusted by the knee height adjusting plates 7 and 8 so that the knee bending angle becomes a predetermined constant value (for example, 15 degrees), and the ankle portion is fastened to the ankle portion fastening band. 4 is fastened and fixed to the ankle support 3. Next, the reset button 52 is pressed to reset the display on the display unit 51 to 0 kg, and the load corresponding to the weight of the lower limb is stored in the microcomputer in the measured value display device 5 as an offset amount. The process up to this point is the same as that for measuring muscle strength.
[0021]
Then, a value about 80% of the muscular strength of the quadriceps measured last time is once set in the display unit 51 by the setting button 53. For example, if the previously measured muscle strength is 50 kg, 40 kg is set. After setting and waiting for a while, the display on the display unit 51 becomes zero. The preparation is completed as described above. Thereafter, the subject presses the knee support 6 with his / her knee so that the lower limbs are extended, and the number of times is displayed each time the load reaches a set value (for example, 40 kg). This is displayed on the part 51. The subject puts force to extend the lower limbs and trains the subject to apply force to the lower limbs several tens of times a day until the load reaches a set value (for example, 40 kg). The strength of the quadriceps can be effectively increased without giving.
[0022]
In the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device of the embodiment described above, the power source of the measurement value display device 5 is a battery and does not require a commercial power source, so it is extremely portable and wherever the subject has a bed or treatment table. But you can carry the device and measure and train muscle strength.
Further, the combination of the knee-back height adjusting plates 7 and 8 for adjusting the height of the knee-back support base 6 so that the knee flexion angle becomes a predetermined constant value (for example, 15 degrees) at the time of measurement is the same subject. Since it is the same, only an assistant is required at the time of the first knee height adjustment. From the second time, the knee height adjustment plates 7 and 8 can be combined by the subject alone, and muscle strength measurement and training can be performed independently. it can.
Further, in this embodiment, since the measurement value display device 5 is provided with the offset amount correcting means, the influence of the lower limb's own weight can be eliminated, and the muscular strength of the quadriceps can be measured more accurately.
Further, in the above embodiment, the measurement value display device 5 is provided with the offset amount correction means to eliminate the influence of the lower limb's own weight, but even without such a function, the muscle strength of the quadriceps muscle is objectively evaluated although it is somewhat inaccurate. Can be obtained numerically.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention has an excellent effect that the muscle strength of the quadriceps muscle of the subject can be easily measured on an examination table or a bed.
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 2 has an effect that the muscle strength of the quadriceps femoris muscle can be measured more accurately in addition to the effect of the above invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a usage state of a quadriceps muscle strength measuring device.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 3 Ankle support 5 Measurement value display device 6 Knee back support 7, 7 Knee back height adjustment board (back knee height adjustment means)
9 Strain gauge load detector (load detection means)

Claims (2)

A base, an ankle support that is supported slidably in the horizontal direction on the base, and that can fix the ankle of the lower limb; The knee support base, the knee height adjustment means that can adjust the height of the knee support base, the load detection means that detects the load applied to the knee support base, and the load detection means And a measurement value display device for displaying the measured load. The measurement value display device includes offset amount correction means for subtracting and displaying the load applied to the knee support base in a state where no force is applied to the lower limb from the load applied to the knee support base during measurement. The quadriceps muscle strength measuring apparatus according to claim 1.

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