Quantitative functional evaluation of spine is highly desirable in posture and movement analysis. Given the complexity of the spine biomechanical system, very few studies outline the behaviour of the spine in posture and movement analysis. During a research lasting 25 years, a complete three-dimensional (3D) parametric biomechanical skeleton model including a 3D full spine model based on the measurements of the positions of suitable body landmarks labelled by passive markers has been implemented. Around this model, a fully dedicated 3D opto-electronic stereo-photogrammetric system named Global Opto-electronic Approach for Locomotion and Spine (GOALS) has been developed. Depending on different analysis purposes, the model can work at different stages of complexity. The model can integrate seamlessly data deriving from multiple measurement devices, such as 3D stereo-photogrammetric systems, force platforms, surface electro-myography and foot pressure maps. In addition to single-trial analysis, the possibility to assess and to extract mean behaviours either for posture or for cyclical tasks (e.g. multiple strides in gait) has been included. The aim of this paper is to describe the current level of development of the GOALS system and its versatility as a clinical tool. To this purpose, examples of multi-factorial quantitative functional descriptions of paradigmatic cases are presented.
Quantitative functional assessment of Posture and Motion Analysis of the entire skeleton and spine is highly desirable. Nonetheless, in most studies focused on posture and movement biomechanics, the spine is only grossly depicted because of its required level of complexity. Approaches integrating pressure measurement devices with stereophotogrammetric systems have been presented in the literature, but spine biomechanics studies have rarely been linked to baropodometry. A new multi-sensor system called GOALS-E.G.G. (Global Opto-electronic Approach for Locomotion and Spine-Expert Gait Guru), integrating a fully genlock-synched baropodometric treadmill with a stereophotogrammetric device, is introduced to overcome the above-described limitations. The GOALS-EGG extends the features of a complete 3D parametric biomechanical skeleton model, developed in an original way for static 3D posture analysis, to kinematic and kinetic analysis of movement, gait and run. By integrating baropodometric data, the model allows the estimation of lower limb net-joint forces, torques and muscle power. Net forces and torques are also assessed at intervertebral levels. All the elaborations are completely automatised up to the mean behaviour extraction for both posture and cyclic-repetitive tasks, allowing the clinician/researcher to perform, per each patient, multiple postural/movement tests and compare them in a unified statistically reliable framework.
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