Abstract
Capturing anatomical landmarks using an electromechanical measurement system shares facets of traditional anthropometry (palpation/haptic inspection, visual inspection). Electromechanical measurement systems, however, capture discrete anatomical landmarks used to create multiple anthropometric dimensions. This study investigated measurer variation for the multi-modal task of capturing static, three-dimensional landmarks. Two trained measurers used an electromechanical system to repeatedly render five upper extremity landmarks on a healthy adult, braced in a static position. ANOVA showed significant differences across measurers (p < 0.01) in each coordinate axis (X, Y, Z) for three landmarks. Post-hoc dimensioning of Bi-Humeral Epicondylar breadth and Radiale-Radial Styloid length utilized these landmark data as endpoints in linear dimensions. ANOVA showed significant results for measurer for Bi-Humeral Epicondylar breadth (p < 0.01). This study details measurer variation for the task of rendering three-dimensional landmarks and the impact this variation has on the creation of linear dimensions. Studying the landmark digitization variation will aid in the reduction of linear dimension variation, enable effective training, and help mitigate the impact of differential search strategies used to capture digitized landmarks in three-dimensions.
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