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Measurement of the Contact Area of the Second to Fifth Metacarpophalangeal and Carpometacarpal Joints During Sphere Grasping Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Abstract

Purpose

To date, no in vivo study is available regarding the measurement of the contact area of the metacarpophalangeal joints (MP joints) and carpometacarpal joints (CM joints) when the subject grasps specific objects; therefore, this study conducted magnetic resonance imaging of fingers in the neutral posture and while grasping three spheres with different diameters and measured the contact areas of the second to fifth MP and CM joints.

Methods

The study included six Japanese male subjects with no hand injuries or disorders. The following four postures were used: neutral posture, in which all fingers were extended without holding a sphere, and postures while grasping three different spheres with varying diameters (40, 67, and 97 mm).

Results and Conclusion

In the second MP joint, the contact area while grasping a ping-pong ball (diameter, 40 mm) was significantly larger than that while grasping a tennis ball (diameter, 67 mm). Although the grasped spheres were changed, no significant changes were observed in the contact areas of joints other than the second MP joint. The contact areas of the second and third CM joints were significantly larger than those of the fourth and fifth CM joints. In the fourth CM joint, the contact area in the neutral posture was significantly larger than that while grasping a tennis and ping-pong ball. In the second and third CM joints, no significant changes were observed in the contact area of each bone, although the posture was changed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Systems Engineering Course, Department of Fundamental Engineering, Utsunomiya University, 7-1-2 Yoto, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-8585, Japan

    Satoshi Shimawaki, Daichi Koya & Masataka Nakabayashi

  2. Department of Radiology School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University and Hospital, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Hideharu Sugimoto

Authors
  1. Satoshi Shimawaki
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  2. Daichi Koya
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  3. Masataka Nakabayashi
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  4. Hideharu Sugimoto
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Correspondence to Satoshi Shimawaki.

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Shimawaki, S., Koya, D., Nakabayashi, M. et al. Measurement of the Contact Area of the Second to Fifth Metacarpophalangeal and Carpometacarpal Joints During Sphere Grasping Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J. Med. Biol. Eng. 40, 128–137 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-019-00496-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-019-00496-5

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