Low cost Instrumentation for Measuring Asymmetries With a Leg Press
Advisor Information
Brian Knarr
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
2-3-2018 2:15 PM
End Date
2-3-2018 3:30 PM
Abstract
Patients that suffer from osteoarthritis injury or have had surgeries resulting from osteoarthritis will need to undergo physical therapy in order to re-strengthen the affected joint. Most common therapies include using a standard leg press, to strengthen the injured joint. However it is not possible to measure force applied when using a standard leg press.
This low cost modular instrumentation will directly measure asymmetry in forces provided by patient’s legs. Before the device can be used in clinical research we need to gather a healthy baseline of symmetry to determined to provide a comparison for injured populations. Therefor, the goal of my project is to validate and evaluate in a healthy population a custom designed leg press attachment that is capable of measuring force produced by each leg.
By doing so, this will aid in the detection of asymmetric patterns of leg strength in patients within the ACL, total knee arthroplasty, and patellofemoral pain populations. Successful completion of this study will help solve the difficulties in observing and measuring these asymmetrical patterns and will provide real-time biofeedback that will prove useful in physical therapy and rehabilitation methodology.
Thus far my research findings indicate that with static and dynamic calibration, the leg press attachment is accurate for measuring force. Calibration technique used for static force data was adding 3lb weights up to 30 pounds. Dynamic technique used an initial 3lb weight then force applied and released in smooth action. The accuracy found when calibrating alongside a force plate is ± 2%.
Low cost Instrumentation for Measuring Asymmetries With a Leg Press
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Patients that suffer from osteoarthritis injury or have had surgeries resulting from osteoarthritis will need to undergo physical therapy in order to re-strengthen the affected joint. Most common therapies include using a standard leg press, to strengthen the injured joint. However it is not possible to measure force applied when using a standard leg press.
This low cost modular instrumentation will directly measure asymmetry in forces provided by patient’s legs. Before the device can be used in clinical research we need to gather a healthy baseline of symmetry to determined to provide a comparison for injured populations. Therefor, the goal of my project is to validate and evaluate in a healthy population a custom designed leg press attachment that is capable of measuring force produced by each leg.
By doing so, this will aid in the detection of asymmetric patterns of leg strength in patients within the ACL, total knee arthroplasty, and patellofemoral pain populations. Successful completion of this study will help solve the difficulties in observing and measuring these asymmetrical patterns and will provide real-time biofeedback that will prove useful in physical therapy and rehabilitation methodology.
Thus far my research findings indicate that with static and dynamic calibration, the leg press attachment is accurate for measuring force. Calibration technique used for static force data was adding 3lb weights up to 30 pounds. Dynamic technique used an initial 3lb weight then force applied and released in smooth action. The accuracy found when calibrating alongside a force plate is ± 2%.