Orientation of axes in the elbow and forearm for biomechanical modelling

Abstract

To determine the three-dimensional positions and orientations of axes of rotation for elbow flexion and forearm prosupination, the flexion-extension and prosupination movements were measured for five arms. Four right and one arm were taken from four fresh cadavers. Movement was measured with a electromagnetic tracking systems. Axes were found to be almost perpendicular (88.9/spl plusmn/5.1/spl deg/) and crossed at 3.3/spl plusmn/0.8 mm. It is suggested that arm movements can be modelled with a two degree-of-freedom model.