[Digital goniometry "Spasmometr GC-2"]

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• Movement organ system disorders significantly impact patient mobility and quality of life.
• Accurate assessment of joint motion is crucial for effective rehabilitation planning.
• Traditional goniometric assessments may lack precision for complex pathological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the modern applications of goniometric assessment in rehabilitation.
• To describe the construction and operation of a digital goniometer for pendulum testing.
• To evaluate the utility of digital goniometry in classifying patients for rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A digital goniometer utilizing an electro-optical transducer was employed.
• Pendulum testing was performed on lower extremities with pathological muscle tone.
• An interface transmitted digitized angle data to a specialized computer program.
• The program registered time-dependent functions and determined joint motion coefficients.

Main Results:

• The digital goniometer accurately captures the time-dependent function of joint angles.
• Specific coefficients describing extremity motion were determined.
• A computer program successfully assigned patients to appropriate rehabilitation groups based on these coefficients.
• Normal values for pendulum test coefficients in asymptomatic subjects were established.

Conclusions:

• Digital goniometry offers a precise and objective method for assessing lower extremity joint motion.
• This technology facilitates accurate patient stratification for tailored rehabilitation programs.
• The developed system provides valuable data for both clinical assessment and research in movement disorders.