Proposition and evaluation of a method for tridimensional kinematic analysis of the patellofemoral joint based on external markers

Author(s)

Juliana Moreno Carmona Sobral

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Educação Física
• Defense date: 2014-09-26

Examining board members

Ricardo Machado Leite de Barros; Isabel de Camargo Neves Sacco; Sergio Augusto Cunha

• Advisor: Ricardo Machado Leite de Barros

Abstract

The major aim of this study was to propose and evaluate a method for three-dimensional kinematic analysis of the patellofemoral joint based on external markers while performing vertical jumps. For this, a specific configuration of the analysis system was developed, with six industrial cameras positioned to ensure a good accuracy of the measurement data. The acquisition frequency was 100 Hz. The analyzed body segments tracking and the reconstruction of their 3D coordinates were performed in Dvideo software. Their orientation and modeling were done in Visual 3D ® software. In this study we evaluated twelve healthy subjects (control group) and five subjects with patellofemoral syndrome in both knees (SFP group). The analyzed variables were the accuracy of the system, the distance between the markers of the patella, knee and patellofemoral rotation angles and translation values of the patellofemoral joint. The data analysis was made after subdividing the jump movement according to the angle of knee flexion in two distinct phases, takeoff (squat and propulsion) and landing (landing and return to starting position). The knee and patellofemoral obtained rotation angles and translation values were similar for both lower limbs. In relation to the vertical jump phases, all values were lower in the landing phase, due to the knee range of motion at this stage has been equally lower. During the squat, both groups showed flexion, medial, posterior and inferior displacement of the patellofemoral joint, but the SFP group showed smaller values. The reliability analysis showed excellent agreement values, suggesting that the method used in this study is capable to generate consistent data. We can conclude that the proposed model was able to detect patellar movement relative to the femur in the transverse axis for the rotation and in the transverse, anteroposterior and longitudinal axes for translation, in both groups (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/03821-0 - Proposition, validation and application of a three-dimensional kinematic analysis method of the patellofemoral joint in female athletes with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome during sporting gesture of jump.
• Grantee: Juliana Moreno Carmona Sobral
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master