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Published on: May 26, 2020
Functionally interpretable local coordinate systems for the upper extremity using inertial & magnetic measurement
W H K de Vries1, H E J Veeger, A G Cutti
1Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. w.devries@rrd.nl
Journal of Biomechanics
|April 13, 2010
Summary
Inertial Magnetic Measurement Systems (IMMS) offer repeatable segment orientation estimation outside labs. This method provides an alternative to bony landmark measurements for anatomical motion analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Motion Analysis
- Wearable Technology
Background:
- Inertial Magnetic Measurement Systems (IMMS) are increasingly used for motion analysis outside traditional laboratory settings.
- Accurate determination of initial segment orientation is crucial for long-term, precise joint angle measurements using IMMS.
- Current standard methods rely on bony landmark measurement (BLM), which IMMS cannot perform.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and evaluate an alternative method for establishing anatomically understandable segment orientations using IMMS.
- To compare IMMS-based local coordinate systems (LCS) with traditional BLM-based LCS.
Main Methods:
- IMMS recordings were collected from five subjects in a standard anatomical position to define static axes.
- Standardized motions were used to estimate kinematic axes of rotation.
- Local coordinate systems (LCS) were constructed using IMMS axes with the lowest dispersion and compared to BLM-based LCS.
Main Results:
- The proposed IMMS-based method demonstrated high repeatability, with axes determined within 3.8 degrees dispersion.
- Compatible results were found for the thorax when comparing IMMS-based and BLM-based LCS.
- Differences up to 17.2 degrees were observed for the humerus, forearm, and hand, indicating less compatibility in these segments.
Conclusions:
- IMMS-based local reference frames can be constructed with high repeatability.
- This procedure enables repeatable estimation of segment orientations outside the laboratory.
- While differing from BLM-based LCS, the IMMS approach offers a viable alternative for motion analysis in various settings.
