A three dimensional technique for analyzing functional hand strength and individual phalangeal joint loading using a 'pill bottle dynamometer'.

摘要

A six load component "pill bottle" dynamometer was developed by A.M.T.I. to detect the forces and torques applied to open various types of caps. Adapters were designed to allow clinical hand strength testing. A data analysis program was created to calculate the resultant force administered onto the dynamometer, the point of contact between the digit and the dynamometer and the forces and torques at this point of application. For comprehensible reasons, an imaging program was developed that creates a computer generated three dimensional replica of the pill bottle, then images the position of the center of pressure and the magnitude and orientation of the reaction forces and torques at that point of application.;A method for calculating individual phalangeal joint loads about an approximate joint center and flexion/extension axis was also developed.