Subject‐specific measures of Achilles tendon moment arm using ultrasound and video‐based motion capture

Physiological Reports

Kurt Manal¹  Justin D. Cowder² 

[1] Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delaware Rehabilitation Institute, Newark, Delaware;Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

关键词: Ankle joint;    center of rotation;    displacement;    lever arm;    tendon excursion;   

DOI  :  10.1002/phy2.139

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

The Achilles tendon (AT) moment arm is an important biomechanical parameter most commonly estimated using one of two methods: (A) center of rotation and (B) tendon excursion. Conflicting findings regarding magnitude and whether it changes with contraction intensity have been reported when using these methods. In this study, we present an alternate method of measuring the AT moment arm by combining ultrasound and video-based motion capture. Moment arms for 10 healthy male subjects were measured at five different joint angles in 10° increments ranging from 20° of dorsiflexion (DF) to 20° of plantar flexion (PF). Moment arms were measured at rest and also during maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). For both conditions, the AT moment arm increased in magnitude as the ankle moved from DF to PF. In 20° of DF, the moment arm at rest averaged 34.6 ± 1.8 mm and increased to a maximum value of 36.9 ± 1.9 mm when plantar flexed to 10°. Moment arms during MVC ranged from 35.7 ± 1.8 mm to 38.1 ± 2.6 mm. The moment arms we obtained were much more consistent with literature values derived using ultrasound and tendon excursion compared to center of rotation or in vitro methods. This is noteworthy as the hybrid method is easy to implement and as it is less costly and timing consuming than other methods, including tendon excursion, it is well suited for large-scale studies involving many subjects.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society.

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.