The "back mouse" - an analog-digital measuring device to record the sagittal outline of the back

Author(s): Baumann, M., Senn, E., Zuckriegl, H.

Journal/Book: Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin. 1994; 4/2: 35-43.

Abstract: In this paper a new but simple electro-mechanical device for computerassisted measurement and documentation of the spine's sagittal shape is presented. The handy device is connected via an analog-digital-converter to a standard MS-DOS-PC. When manually guided along the back of a subject freely positioned in space, the system records the outline of the subject's spine from vertebrae C7 to S3 in the sagittal plane. The local angle or inclination relative to a perpendicular line is given at any position by an internal pendulum connected to a potentiometer. All essential values, such as the back's length, total inclination or reclination, lordosis and kyphosis, segmental inclination and position of the pelvis are both graphically and numerically recorded and presented in an easily understandable way. This device offers essential advantages in comparison to hitherto known methods for the measurement of the spine's conture in the sagittal plane, due not only to its accuracy, objectivity and documentation but also because of its ease of use, noninvasivity and cost-benefit ratio.Present measurements indicate good inter- and intra-observer reproducibility with high reliability and clinical relevance. Manyfold applications are evident for diagnosis of posture, joint position and mobility for many disorders of the locomotor system. Additionally the system is perfectly suited both for comparative epidemiology studies and for the follow up of therapeutic process. It is of equally high value for scientific application due to its unique possibility of numerical and graphical presentation of the "average shape" of group-specific posture by averaging over the group's members, providing both normative values and characteristics for pathological posture.The wheel actually used to measure the back's length may be easily replaced by a sphere, using the same principle as the well known "track-ball" for PCs. With this modification both sagittal and frontal shape could be registered at the same time in a single measurement. With such an advanced device, all important functional parameters of the spine - excluding rotatory components - can be easily measured without any loss of accuracy or handiness.

Keyword(s): Haltung

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