Human Joint Articulation and Motion-Resistive Properties

Abstract : Three-dimensional joint kinematics and motion resistive properties were measured for the shoulder, hip and elbow joints on ten male volunteers. A sonic three-dimensional spatial digitizing system was used to track multiple targets on adjacent body segments while each of the segments was moved through a maximum voluntary range of motion and also while it was subsequently forced to maximum voluntarily allowable ranges by and external force applicator. The target data were used to reconstruct the segments kinematics, which were then related to the force required to attain a given joint orientations. The final data are provided in a globographic presentation in which equal force values are depicted as contours on a global surface. The resistive forces are expressed as functions of the orientation angles in spherical harmonic expansion form. Statistical analyses have been performed on these data to generate both means and variances for the kinematics and resistive force properties. The data have direct applicability to better understanding of the kinematics of human long bone joints; providing preliminary limits for safe joint ranges of motions and forces; and serving as a data base for analytical and mechanical models of the human body. Keywords: Biomechanics, elbow complex, joint kinematics, joint sinus, joint restoring forces, joint passive forces, hip complex, shoulder complex, sonic digitizer, statistical data base.