An investigation of factors affecting proprioception at the ankle joint complex
An investigation of factors affecting proprioception at the ankle joint complex
This report details work that has been undertaken in order to complete an investigation of factors that affect proprioception at the ankle joint complex. A thorough literature search revealed that detailed research in the area is notable by its absence; indeed one of the first steps was to adopt and clarify definitions relevant to the scope of this work. After considering the techniques employed in previous work, it was decided that unconstrained joint repositioning would be used to test a subject’s proprioception. This was intended to address a fundamental criticism of the majority of the work reviewed regarding the imposition of an unnatural movement pattern, where a subject’s foot is constrained to follow rotations about a fixed mechanical axis. In order to measure unconstrained movement, three-dimensional motion analysis techniques were required. Equipment that is capable of measuring the movement of markers in three dimensions is widely commercially available. However, methods of describing movement at the ankle joint vary, and the choice of method will have a direct effect on the interpretation, and clinical significance, of the measurements made. A novel implementation of an existing technique has been developed and is described here. This technique allows the variation of the axis of rotation of the joint to be described throughout the range of motion. Results obtained under different loading conditions are presented for a range of subjects. Although not considered in detail at the outset of the project, the way in which the motion is described is itself a factor that affects the measurement of proprioception. A protocol for the measurement of proprioception, based on the description of patterns of movement of axes, has been developed and is described, and preliminary results obtained using this protocol are presented. Future developments and applications of this work, including applications to investigations of joint pathologies, are discussed.
University of Southampton
Monk, Christopher John
354eb2c3-3226-478a-af9d-b6b861f70ecf
2005
Monk, Christopher John
354eb2c3-3226-478a-af9d-b6b861f70ecf
Monk, Christopher John
(2005)
An investigation of factors affecting proprioception at the ankle joint complex.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
This report details work that has been undertaken in order to complete an investigation of factors that affect proprioception at the ankle joint complex. A thorough literature search revealed that detailed research in the area is notable by its absence; indeed one of the first steps was to adopt and clarify definitions relevant to the scope of this work. After considering the techniques employed in previous work, it was decided that unconstrained joint repositioning would be used to test a subject’s proprioception. This was intended to address a fundamental criticism of the majority of the work reviewed regarding the imposition of an unnatural movement pattern, where a subject’s foot is constrained to follow rotations about a fixed mechanical axis. In order to measure unconstrained movement, three-dimensional motion analysis techniques were required. Equipment that is capable of measuring the movement of markers in three dimensions is widely commercially available. However, methods of describing movement at the ankle joint vary, and the choice of method will have a direct effect on the interpretation, and clinical significance, of the measurements made. A novel implementation of an existing technique has been developed and is described here. This technique allows the variation of the axis of rotation of the joint to be described throughout the range of motion. Results obtained under different loading conditions are presented for a range of subjects. Although not considered in detail at the outset of the project, the way in which the motion is described is itself a factor that affects the measurement of proprioception. A protocol for the measurement of proprioception, based on the description of patterns of movement of axes, has been developed and is described, and preliminary results obtained using this protocol are presented. Future developments and applications of this work, including applications to investigations of joint pathologies, are discussed.
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Published date: 2005
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Local EPrints ID: 465613
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/465613
PURE UUID: eb5f00bb-a9da-421f-aba1-5683928ed08e
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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 02:02
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 20:17
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Author:
Christopher John Monk
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