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Biomedical subjects

Peter Condie

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Condie.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Wireless orientation sensors: their suitability to measure head movement for neck pain assessment.

The purpose of this study was to verify the performance and suitability of new generation 3D wireless orientations sensors to measure cervical range of movement against a criterion standard instrument, an electromagnetic motion analysis system (Fastrak-Polhemus). The wireless orientation sensor (InertiaCube 3) consists of 9 motion-sensing elements: 3 accelerometers, 3 angular velocity rate transducers and 3 magnetometers. Measurements of cervical range of motion in each primary plane, left-lateral flexion, flexion and left rotation were directly compared from both systems in 10 normal asymptomatic subjects. Results showed very high cross-correlations (.99-.97) and low average root mean square errors (0.7-2.5 degrees). We conclude that orientation sensors are a valid, accurate and suitable device for obtaining cervical joint ranges of motion in the primary plane of movement.

Adult↗

Gait event detection using linear accelerometers or angular velocity transducers in able-bodied and spinal-cord injured individuals.

We report on three different methods of gait event detection (toe-off and heel strike) using miniature linear accelerometers and angular velocity transducers in comparison to using standard pressure-sensitive foot switches. Detection was performed with normal and spinal-cord injured subjects. The detection of end contact (EC), normally toe-off, and initial contact (IC) normally, heel strike was based on either foot linear accelerations or foot sagittal angular velocity or shank sagittal angular velocity. The results showed that all three methods were as accurate as foot switches in estimating times of IC and EC for normal gait patterns. In spinal-cord injured subjects, shank angular velocity was significantly less accurate (p<0.02). We conclude that detection based on foot linear accelerations or foot angular velocity can correctly identify the timing of IC and EC events in both normal and spinal-cord injured subjects.

Acceleration↗

The development, validity, and reliability of a manual muscle testing device with integrated limb position sensors.

OBJECTIVE: To report the development and validation of a new hand-held muscle strength-testing device that is integrated with orientation sensors and designed to test the strength of major muscle groups at a given limb or joint position. DESIGN: Design description and validation study. SETTING: University-based human movement facility. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight able-bodied, healthy subjects. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A device was developed based on a hand-held force dynamometer with integrated orientation sensors. The validity and reliability (interrater, intertrial) of 5 maximum isometric contractions of hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion were assessed. The results were compared with those from an isokinetic dynamometer (KinCom). RESULTS: The new manual muscle tester was highly reliable and valid in estimating muscle strength of the lower limbs. The coefficient of variation between trials of all movements was low, with a mean less than 10% (range, 3.7%-8.9%). The only significant difference in muscle strength between the new device and the isokinetic dynamometer was found for hip flexion. CONCLUSIONS: The new hand-held muscle strength tester appears to be a reliable and valid clinical assessment tool that can be used to objectively assess muscle strength at particular limb positions and/or joint angles. This feature appears to represent a technical advance in portable muscle strength devices, providing comparable information to those obtained by isokinetic dynamometers at a fraction of the cost and size. However, the device needs to be validated in clinical populations, such as patients with spinal cord injury and stroke, in order to demonstrate its general clinical utility.

Adolescent↗