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Development of a Novel Technique to Record 3D Intersegmental Angular Kinematics During Dynamic Spine Movements

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Abstract

A novel method of recording intersegmental spine kinematics was developed. The method was required to: (1) have similar accuracy and precision as current methods that record gross spine kinematics; (2) be reasonably insensitive to errors associated with marker detection or misplacement; and (3) be reasonably insensitive to skin movement artefacts. Four healthy participants performed trunk flexion, lateral bending, and axial twist movements; data were collected using the intersegmental method as well as electromagnetic sensors. Comparing methods, gross angular kinematic differences were within 1 SD during flexion and lateral bend, while axial twist resulted in the largest differences. To test sensitivity to marker error, random error was added to marker positions. The most proximal and distal intersegmental units were the most sensitive to marker error. Adding additional markers at the ends or interpolating padded markers reduced this sensitivity. The influence of skin movement artefact was investigated by digitizing locations of the skin with respect to the spinous processes in both neutral and fully flexed postures. In the lumbar region, large skin artefacts had minimal effect on intersegmental angles. The greatest strength of this method is the ability to dynamically record intersegmental spine kinematics.

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Abbreviations

AP:

Anterior/posterior axis

AT:

Cardan angle about the superior/inferior axis

C7:

7th cervical vertebrae

FE:

Cardan angle about the mediolateral axis

LB:

Cardan angle about the anterior/posterior axis

LCS:

Local coordinate system

S1:

1st sacral vertebrae

ML:

Mediolateral axis

SI:

Superior/inferior axis

T12:

12th thoracic vertebrae

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Derek P. Zwambag, Shawn M. Beaudette & Stephen H. M. Brown

  2. Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Diane E. Gregory

  3. Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Diane E. Gregory

Authors
  1. Derek P. Zwambag
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  2. Shawn M. Beaudette
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  3. Diane E. Gregory
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  4. Stephen H. M. Brown
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Correspondence to Stephen H. M. Brown.

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Associate Editor Dan Elson oversaw the review of this article.

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Zwambag, D.P., Beaudette, S.M., Gregory, D.E. et al. Development of a Novel Technique to Record 3D Intersegmental Angular Kinematics During Dynamic Spine Movements. Ann Biomed Eng 46, 298–309 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-017-1970-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-017-1970-x

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