Investigation of postural status useing a PodoScanalyzer.

Talpos-Niculescu, Cristina ; Kulcsar, Raul Miklos ; Argesanu, Alexandra 等

1. INTRODUCTION

Posture is the relative alignment of the various body segments with one another. The stress applied to the body segments is minimal when the person has a good posture and therefore the body alignment is balanced. When a person has a poor posture, the body's alignment is out of balance causing exaggerated stresses to various body segments.

Over time this continual stress, even at low levels produce musculoskeletal disorders and create anatomical adaptations. The body's efficiency will be affected and the accumulation of the trauma causes psychic and physical stress.

2. AIM

The aim of this study is to observe the symptoms that cause the postural problems that appear at certain patients (dentists), to diagnose them using a modern technology and then tread them or refer them to other specialists. A dysfunctioning postural programme producing symptoms can induce dysfunctions at various levels of the locomotion apparatus. Therefore, it can be seen that there are many underlying causes to postural related problems that can be overlooked and patients can easily be misdiagnosed. This is a problem for both the practitioner and the patient. The physician needs to be sure and diagnose if there is a true biomechanical problem that produces pain or affects the posture or to refer the patient to another specialist if orthopedic or musculoskeletal intervention cannot help.

3. METHODS

We used a modular electronic baropodometric detection platform(with a length of 160 cm, MultiSensor with 25,600 sensors on 40cm width and 2 walkways of 80cm each), an optoelectronic system composed from an infrared video camera, a PodoScanalyzer for recording the patient's foot under pressure by determining the length, circumference and geometry with length, angles and width. The software used to analyze and interpret the data was the Milletrix Software. It recorded the static, dynamic and stabilometry analysis. The D.B.I.S. software (Digitalized Biometry Images System) calculates the B.P.I. index which indicates the numerical values of the entire investigation. The entire system is non-invasive.

The first step consists in requiring the patient to stand on the pressure plate and remain in an orthostatic, natural and relaxed position for 5 seconds so we can obtain the patient's oscillations.

The he is instructed to walk along the platform, turning and then walking back for a dynamic test. For obtaining the gait or balance disorders, the patient needs to walk along the platform 3 or 4 times. Central pressure points are obtained and monitored during the roll of the plantar on the walkway.

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]

[FIGURE 3 OMITTED]

[FIGURE 4 OMITTED]

[FIGURE 5 OMITTED]

To be performed next is the balance test which is obtained by standing on the pressure plate in bipedal or mono pedal positions with the eyes open or closed. Performing this test we can easily obtain eye or vestibular system disorders.

Using reflective markers and placing them on relevant parts of the body we can measure planes of the principal body segments by using The Body Analysis Capture test. Performing this test we obtained lack of balance, rotations of the body and limb compensation. An optoelectronic exam is performed (with the infrared camera) of the back and on the spinal cord of those patients suffering from craniosacral disorders and scoliosis.

Using the PodoScanalyser we analyze the foot's structure, identifying hyperkeratosis, toe deformity or any other conditions that appear at this level.

Finally the D.B.I.S. software elaborates the results of each test and all the values obtained after each and every test are analyzed and compared with physiological values and assembled in The Bio Postural Index report.

4. RESULTS

Using the Baropodometer we evaluate the balance by dislocating the pressure center and oscillations of the pressure center on the surface.

We also observed that the orthostatic position is complex an also the mechanical, anthropodometrical and neuromuscular factors that influence the human balance.

In what concerned the maintaining balance of the human posture, visual information is important for making adjustments and correcting position.

We observed postural alterations such as scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis and flat feet that can be the cause of stomatognatic problems such as occlusal disorders.

5. CONCLUSION

The use of the baropodometer is recent technology and there are very few studies about its use as it is normally used for clinical purposes, which explains the little existence of academic articles on this matter. However, recent research has proven it to be an excellent methodology for assessing balance by means of the dislocation of the pressure centre (Schmidt et al., 2003, cited in Bankoff et. Al., 2006).

With more and more dentists working in inadequate position it can be the cause of postural syndrome and caused by the unbalanced between the anterior and posterior muscles accentuated in various work positions indicating a forward head position.

An erroneous working position leads to back, neck, head, shoulders, arms and finger pains and also leg pains. These kinds of pains get worse trough the years by ignoring the problem and not treat them by a specialist. By exercising on a regular basis, the patients can obtain very beneficial important results.

The dentists must adopt an ergonomically correct posture while working, because faulty posture in the everyday activity leads to physic and mental stress causing a poor dental practice.

This study is a start line for future researches that will improve the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, and long-term remedy for those who are affected by these disorders.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was partially supported by the strategic grant POSDRU/88/1.5/S/50783, Project ID50783 (2009), co-financed by the European Social Fund--Investing in People, within the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013.

7. REFERENCES

Adams M.; Bogduk N.; Burton K.; Dolan P. (2006). The Biomechanics of Back Pain Second Edition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Alexopoulos E.C.; Stathi I.C.; Charizani F. (2004). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists, BMC Musculoskelet Disord;5: 16.

Baladowski M.; Kotowicz-Gears A.; Jaworski P., (2/2007). Lighting and its role in the Ergonomics of Dental Team Work, Ace of Dentistry, pp. XII-XIV.

Ergonomics and Disability Support Advisory Committee (EDSAC) to the Council on Dental Practice (CDP). An introduction to ergonomics: risk factors, MSDs, approaches and interventions. American Dental Association;2004.

Houglum P.A.; Perrin D.H. (2005). Therapeutic exercise for musculoskeletal injuries Second Edition, Human Kinetics, pp 325.

Podariu A.C., Jumanca D, Galuscan A., Vacaru R., Muntean R.(2003). Treaty of preventive dentistry, Editor Waldpress, Timisoara.

Sbenghe T. (2002). Movement science, Ed. Medicala, Bucuresti.