Verification of determining the spatial position of the lower extremity by ultrasound-based motion analyser

Abstract

The objective of this study is to verify the ultrasound-based motion analysis method on 16 healthy people during gait. Ultrasound-based triplets were fixed onto the sacrum, the left and right thighs and the left and right calves. A ZEBRIS ultrasound-based motion analysis system was used for measuring the spatial coordinates of triplets during gait. The position of the nineteen anatomical points involved in the study was defined by an ultrasound-based pointer in the local coordinate system specified by the triplets before starting measurements. The spatial coordinates of the designated anatomical points can be calculated from the coordinate of triplets. The method is calibrated with interobserver and intraobserver variations. On the basis of the statistical analysis of the spatial coordinates specified by the ultrasound-based measurement method, it can be established that the measurement method is reproducible because in case of an experienced person performing measurements the maximum standard deviation of co ordinates is below 1 mm, and around 2 mm in case of a person inexperienced in measurements.