DYNAMOMETER FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF TORQUES ON HUMAN JOINTS

T. Angeli

Abstract

In the field of biomechanics, in sport as well as in rehabilitation, it is very important to deduce the muscle-force knowing the torque of the joints. So called knee-dynamometers are used for this purpose. These dynamometers must follow given velocity-courses of the measuring lever regardless of the torque to be measured. Up to now there are only dynamometers available for measuring static torques and torques with constant velocity. However, these dynamometers can only measure the torque of isometric contractions and extensions or flexions of the knee joint with constant angular velocity. Therefore the idea was born to design and construct a prototype which is able to measure the torque during acceleration-courses for different human joints. At the same time a new measuring method would ensure correct results by considering gravity or inertia of masses during acceleration. It became evident that the force-development of the physiologically contracted muscle differs to that of the electrically stimulated muscle.

Keywords

force/torque velocity relationship, functional electrical stimulation, human functions measurement

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IMEKO-WC-2000-TC18-P457.pdf

DOI

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IMEKO TC

TC18 - Measurement of Human Functions

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