Spinal and shoulder complex posture. I: measurement using the 3Space lsotrak

Abstract

This study examined the use of the 3Space Isotrak for the measurement of static posture of the spine and the shoulder complex. The Isotrak sensor (stylus) was used to digitize bony landmarks on the subjects' spine and shoulder complex as they stood erect with their arms relaxed by their side. Measures of thoracic posture and the resting position of the right shoulder complex were calculated from the coordinates of these points. System accuracy was examined by repeated measures of known angles in each plane on a plexiglass model. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were above 0.99 for all comparisons of measured to known angles. Interday reliability of measures in 20 subjects was also examined using ICCs. With the exception of one measure, humeral position in the coronal plane, all correlations exceeded 0.75. It was concluded that the system was accurate and that spinal and shoulder complex posture are reproducible when measured on different days.

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