Methods and system for assessing limb position sense during movement

• US 6,692,449 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Brown, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/017,510
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 600/595, 600/587, 600/300, 482/57, 482/142, 482/51, 482/91, 482/63, 482/5, 482/62, 733/790.1, 733/790.2, 733/790.7, 601/32, 601/36, 601/40
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment

Abstract

This invention includes methods and/or apparatus for limb position sensing and, more particularly, measurement of limb position acuity during an ongoing movement rather than after movement has stopped.

Claims

1. A method of assessing limb position sense accuracy, said method comprising:

providing a test subject engaged in repetitive movement, said movement having a trajectory comprising a plurality of positions thereon, said movement selected from the group consisting of upper limb, lower limb, foot and hand movements and a combination of said movements, said subject having a body orientation and posture during said engagement;

selecting one said position on said trajectory;

recording said subject indicated actual position sensed by said subject responsive to said selected position; and

comparing said indicated actual position with said selected position.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said subject is provided information comparing said actual and selected positions during said movement.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said engagement is repetitive lower limb movement.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said engagement is selected from the group consisting of passive movement and active movement.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said movement has a load applied thereto.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said lower limb movement further includes contralateral limb movement.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein each said limb movement has substantially the same trajectory, each said limb at a position thereon.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said movement comprises cyclic pedaling.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said pedaling is at a constant rate.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said trajectory positions are selected from the group consisting of limb flexion, limb extension, transition positions between said flexion and extension positions and combinations of said positions.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said comparison further includes analysis to determine statistical significance.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said engagement is repetitive upper limb movement.

13. A method of improving lower limb position sense acuity, said method comprising:

engaging a test subject in repetitive lower limb movement, said movement having a trajectory comprising a plurality of positions thereon;

selecting one said position on said trajectory;

recording said subject indicated actual position sensed by said subject responsive to said selected position;

comparing said indicated actual position with said selected position; and

providing said subject information comparing said actual and selected positions during said movement.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said movement is at a constant rate.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said repetitive movement comprises cyclic pedaling.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said pedaling is at a constant rate.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said trajectory positions are selected from the group consisting of limb flexion, limb extension, transition positions between said flexion and extension positions and combinations of said positions.

18. A system for assessing subject limb position sense acuity during on-going movement, said system comprising a movement trajectory component, a subject position indicator, and a comparative measurement component.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said movement trajectory component measures movement selected from the group consisting of angular rotation, linear motion and combinations of said motions, said motions of at least one of the arms, legs, hands and feet of a subject.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said movement is angular rotation and said component is a pedaling ergometer.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said ergometer further includes a potentiometer to measure crank position.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said indicator is a subject activated physical signal.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said subject position indicator is a voice activated electrical signal.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said measurement component processes data comparing movement trajectory and subject position on said trajectory.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said trajectory component comprises a pedaling ergometer with a potentiometer and said subject position indicator is a voice activated electrical signal, and said measurement component compares ergometer crank position with said subject position signal to determine error measurements.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said measurement component compares subject measurements with normative values.

27. A method of using the system of claim 18 to assess lower limb position sense acuity during movement, said method comprising:

providing an assessment system comprising a movement trajectory component, a subject position indicator, and a comparative measurement component;

engaging a test subject in repetitive lower limb movement, said movement having a trajectory comprising a plurality of positions thereon, said engagement with said assessment system;

selecting one said position on said trajectory;

recording said subject indicated actual position sensed by said subject responsive to said selected position; and

comparing said indicated actual position with said selected position.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said engagement is selected from the group consisting of passive movement and active movement.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said repetitive movement has a load applied thereto.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said lower limb movement further includes contralateral limb movement.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein each said limb movement has substantially the same trajectory, each said limb at a position thereon.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein said repetitive movement comprises cyclic pedaling and said movement trajectory component is a pedaling ergometer.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein said subject is provided information comparing said actual and selected positions during said movement.