ABSTRACT
Background: Providing new objective valid and reliable methods of assessment of a range of motion is always a persistent need for clinical practitioners and researchers in physical therapy for obtaining précised and realistic diagnostic and treatment decisions. So this study was carried out to test the validity and intra-rater reliability of the laser goniometer via comparing repeated measures of laser and electro-goniometers in measuring a range of motion of shoulder movements considering the electro-goniometer as the reference standard. Methods: one hundred healthy males with ages ranging between 20-30 years shared in this study. Three consecutive measures of bilateral shoulder flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation range of motion were performed by the same examiner on each subject by each of the laser and electro-goniometer, with standardized measurement procedures, subjects’ positions, and stabilizations. Results: Pearson (r), paired T-test, and intra-class (ICC) correlation coefficients were used to test the validity and intra-rater reliability of the laser goniometer in comparison to the electro-goniometer. And the results of the validity testing showed a very strong relationship between readings by both devices (r=0.84 to 0.93) and also no significant differences between means of readings of both devices with the p-value ranging between 0.13 and 0.97. Also, ICC revealed high intra-rater reliability of laser goniometer on repeated measures of shoulder range of motions (ICC=0.98-0.99). Conclusion: laser goniometer can be used as a new valid, reliable digital objective method of measurement of shoulder range of motion.
ABSTRACT
We report on a case of a patient who underwent minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (mi-TLIF) with objective physical activity measurements performed preoperatively and postoperatively at up to 12-months using wireless accelerometer technology. In the first postoperative month following surgery, the patient had reduced mobility, taking 2,397 steps over a distance of 1.8 km per day. However, the number of steps taken and distance travelled per day had returned to baseline levels by the second postoperative month. At one-year follow-up, the patient averaged 5,095 steps per day in the month over a distance of 3.8 km; this was a 60% improvement in both steps taken and distance travelled compared to the preoperative status. The use of wireless accelerometers is feasible in obtaining objective physical activity measurements before and after lumbar interbody fusion and may be applicable to other related spinal surgeries as well.
Subject(s)
Humans , Follow-Up Studies , Motor ActivityABSTRACT
Objects : The purpose of this study is to evaluate objective measurements of skin moisture and its usefulness in the Kampo clinic.Methods : We measured the skin moisture of 6 male volunteers using a sensor twice, in a one to two week interval, and calculated the correlation of both data sets at 66 points. Secondly, we compared the skin moisture data at 10 regions in 81 patients without any skin disease, in a wide age range from 30 s to early 70 s. The ten regions measured were : face, chest, back, abdomen, leg and 4 forearm points, i.e. the inside and outside of the bilateral center forearm, and palm.Results : The correlation of two successively measured data sets showed excellent relation (r=0.716, p<0.0001). The sensor measurement of skin moisture was quite reliable. Measurements of the face, chest and back showed them to be significantly wetter than the abdomen, leg or any of the 4 forearm points. Palm measurements indicated a wetter tendency than for any forearm measurements. Back and abdomen measurements in males were significantly wetter than those in females. There were no significant differences among the data sets, with regards to age. Therefore, any forearm points are clinically useful for the standard measurement of skin moisture. We also demonstrated a case in which skin moisture measurements with a sensor were useful in prescribing and observing the effects of shigyakusan.Conclusion : Utilizing this method may be helpful in acquiring much more objective measurements for Kampo medicine.