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Comparative evaluation of the tridimensional spine position measured with a new instrument (Vertebral Metrics) and an optoelectronic system of stereophotogrammetry

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Abstract

We designed and built a non-invasive instrument, called Vertebral Metrics, to measure the x, y, and z positions of each spinous process of the spine on a standing position. In the present study, we perform a comparative evaluation of Vertebral Metrics, by comparing the results obtained from this instrument with those from a validated optoelectronic system of stereophotogrammetry, with 10 infrared cameras. The sample was composed of 11 women aged between 14 and 39 years. After marking the various points on the spinal column, from the first cervical vertebra to the first sacral vertebra, they were measured first with the new instrument (Vertebral Metrics) and then by means of the optoelectronics system. Afterwards, the results were subjected to a thorough comparison. The statistical comparison of the results was performed using an ANOVA model with three factors (Instrument, Subject, and Vertebra) for the intervertebral distance.

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Acknowledgment

C. Quaresma would like to acknowledge Fundação CIência e Tecnologia (FCT) for the grant (SFRH/BD/44042/2008). This research was supported in part by FCT project POCTI/0068/2003.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cefitec, Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    Cláudia Quaresma, Mário Forjaz Secca & João Goyri O’Neill

  2. Neuromechanics Research Group, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1499-002, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal

    Filipa João & António Veloso

  3. CMA, Departamento de Matemática, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    Miguel Fonseca

  4. Ressonância Magnética – Caselas, Lisbon, Portugal

    Mário Forjaz Secca

  5. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056, Lisbon, Portugal

    João Goyri O’Neill & Jorge Branco

  6. Hospital Dr. Alfredo da Costa, 1069-089, Lisbon, Portugal

    Jorge Branco

Authors
  1. Cláudia Quaresma
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  2. Filipa João
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  3. Miguel Fonseca
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  4. Mário Forjaz Secca
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  5. António Veloso
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  6. João Goyri O’Neill
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  7. Jorge Branco
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cláudia Quaresma.

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Quaresma, C., João, F., Fonseca, M. et al. Comparative evaluation of the tridimensional spine position measured with a new instrument (Vertebral Metrics) and an optoelectronic system of stereophotogrammetry. Med Biol Eng Comput 48, 1161–1164 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-010-0658-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-010-0658-2

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