↓ Skip to main content

A novel method of measuring passive quasi‐stiffness in the first metatarsophalangeal joint

Overview of attention for article published in Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, October 2016
Altmetric Badge

Mentioned by

twitter
14 X users
facebook
2 Facebook pages

Citations

dimensions_citation
20 Dimensions

Readers on

mendeley
47 Mendeley
Title
A novel method of measuring passive quasi‐stiffness in the first metatarsophalangeal joint
Published in
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, October 2016
DOI 10.1186/s13047-016-0173-2
Pubmed ID
Authors

Marabelle L. Heng, Yaohui K. Chua, Hong K. Pek, Priathashini Krishnasamy, Pui W. Kong

Abstract

First metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) mobility is commonly assessed by its angular displacement (joint angle) or subjectively rated as 'hypermobile', 'normal' or 'stiff' by a clinician. Neither of these methods is ideal because displacement alone does not take into account the force required to displace the joint and subjective evaluation is not always reliable. This study presented a novel method to determine the passive quasi-stiffness of the first MTPJ. The reliability of the proposed method was also assessed. The first MTPJ passive quasi-stiffness of 13 healthy subjects were measured at two occasions, 7 days apart, by two testers (experienced and inexperienced). A tactile pressure sensing system was used to measure the force applied to dorsiflex the first toe by the testers. The torque (in Nmm) about the first MTPJ was calculated as the applied force (in N) multiplied by a moment arm (in mm), where moment arm was the length of the first proximal phalanx. A video camera recorded the motion of the first MTPJ, simultaneously with force measurements, to determine the joint angular displacement (in degrees) using the Dartfish software. The quasi-stiffness (in Nmm/degrees) was calculated as the slope of a graph where torque was plotted against first MTPJ angular displacement. Descriptive statistics of the first MTPJ quasi-stiffness were calculated. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were assessed using Bland and Altman plot, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and standard error of measurement (SEM). First MTPJ quasi-stiffness of the subjects ranged widely from 0.66 to 53.4 Nmm/degrees. Intra-rater reliability for experienced tester was moderate (Session 1: 14.9 ± 14.6 Nmm/degrees, Session 2: 14.2 ± 8.5 Nmm/degrees, ICC = .568, SEM = 7.71 Nmm/degrees). Inter-rater reliability between experienced (12.6 ± 8.4 Nmm/degrees) and non-experienced (19.9 ± 9.2 Nmm/degrees) testers was poor (ICC = -.447, SEM = 11.29 Nmm/degrees). First MTPJ passive quasi-stiffness can be quantified from torque and angular displacement measurements using simple equipment in a clinical setting. The tester's experience affected the consistency in joint quasi-stiffness measurements.

X Demographics

X Demographics

The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 14 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 47 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 47 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 8 17%
Student > Ph. D. Student 6 13%
Student > Bachelor 6 13%
Student > Doctoral Student 4 9%
Researcher 4 9%
Other 8 17%
Unknown 11 23%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 11 23%
Sports and Recreations 9 19%
Engineering 5 11%
Nursing and Health Professions 4 9%
Chemical Engineering 1 2%
Other 3 6%
Unknown 14 30%