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Three-dimensional measurement of rolling in tetraplegic patients
S Tanaka1, O Yoshimura, R Kobayashi
1Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Objective:
To investigate the differences between traumatic tetraplegic patients who can roll and those who cannot.
Design:
Motion analysis using 3-dimensional measurement.
Setting:
Rehabilitation centers in southwestern Japan.
Participants:
Nineteen male participants, all of whom had traumatic C6 complete injury.
Methods:
We used an electromagnetic device to examine the degree of spinal movement in axial rotation during rolling (shifting from supine to side lying). This system (3-Space Win) measures the position and orientation of sensors in space. Two sensors were mounted on a subject over the spinous process of T1 and L5.
Results:
The spinal rotation of patients who could not roll was significantly lower than that of patients who could roll. (The average rotation of non-rollers was 31.5+/-17.5 degrees, while the average rotation of rollers was 66.3+/-17.3degrees). In this study, there were no statistically significant differences in the members of the two groups in terms of age, height, weight or time after injury.
Conclusion:
Rolling requires greater and adequate flexibility in the back of tetraplegic patients.
