Spinal proprioception methods and related systems

• US 6,969,360 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Brekke, Arvid, Bulow, Mary Ellen, Petersen, Cheryl, Ewers, Erinn, Pai, Clive
• Primary Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/075,120
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/594, 600/595, 335/11, 335/12, 601/23, 601/24, 601/90, 601/91, 601/98, 482/140, 482/148
• US Class Current: 600/594
• 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 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4047 afferent nerves, i.e. nerves that relay impulses to the central nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence

Abstract

A system, device and/or method for measuring spinal proprioception, as can be used to screen proprioceptive loss and/or improvement after treatment.

Claims

1. A clinical method of assessing spiral reposition sense, said method comprising:

providing a test subject engaged in thoracolumbar movement, said movement comprising a plurality of flexion positions within a range of motion through the sagittal plane;

selecting one said flexion position, said position having a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate;

recording a subject reposition in said sagittal plane, said reposition sensed by said subject responsive to said selected position, said reposition having a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate; and

comparing said reposition with said selected position.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected position and said recorded reposition have a horizontal coordinate measured at C7-T4.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said horizontal coordinate is measured at the T4 spinal process.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said subject is asymptomatic.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of flexion positions are selected from the group consisting of full flexion range of motion, one-third flexion range of motion and two-thirds flexion range of motion.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said recorded reposition comprises a recordation average.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said subject reposition is substantially without cutaneous input.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said subject reposition is substantially without visual input.

9. A method of using linear coordinates to determine angle of thoracolumbar flexion in the sagittal plane, said method comprising:

positioning a subject seated on a substantially level seating surface;

providing a vertical reference and measuring a vertical linear coordinate at C7-T4 on said subject;

measuring a horizontal linear coordinate from said vertical reference at C7-T4 on said subject, said horizontal coordinate at a right angle to said vertical reference; and

trigonometrically determining an angle of flexion of the thoracolumbar spine in the sagittal plane with said measured linear coordinates.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said subject is seated at a distance apart from said vertical reference.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said subject is positioned throughout a range of motion within the sagittal plane.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said subject is positioned at least one of one-third full flexion and two-thirds full flexion range of motion.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said determination assesses thoracolumbar reposition sense.

14. A method of using a system for determining thoracolumbar position in the sagittal plane to clinically assess spinal reposition sense, said method comprising:

providing a thoracolumbar measurement system having a vertical reference component, a horizontal reference component and a reference housing component, said vertical and horizontal reference components positioned substantially perpendicular one to another within said housing component, and a substantially level seat component supporting said vertical reference component substantially perpendicular therewith;

engaging a test subject seated on said system in thoracolumbar movement, said movement comprising a plurality of flexion positions within a range of motion through the sagittal plane;

selecting one said flexion position, said position having a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate;

recording a subject reposition in said sagittal plane, said reposition sensed by said subject responsive to said selected position, said reposition having a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate; and

comparing said reposition with said selected position.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said selected position and said recorded reposition have vertical and horizontal coordinates measured at C7-T4 on said subject.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said subject is positioned throughout a range of motion within the sagittal plane.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said subject reposition is substantially without cutaneous input.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said subject reposition is substantially without visual input.