AN AXIAL ROTATION GONIOMETER: BRIEF REPORT WIROON LAUPATTARAKASEM

Certain joint movements, especially axial rotations, are more difficult to measure than others; forearm supina-tion and pronation are examples (AAOS 1966). With a standard plastic goniometer measurement is only ap-proximate, though if the patient holds a stick while pronating and supinating (McRae 1976) measurement is easier. The action of gripping, and movements of the wrist and fingers can, however, produce errors. A new gravity-activated goniometer with wrist stabilisation cuffs has therefore been designed (Fig. 1). Method. The humerus must be kept vertical throughout the measurement. This is accomplished by asking the patient to keep the arm firmly adducted to the body and to lean laterally against a wall. The goniometer is applied and strapped to the forearm. The elbow is then flexed 90#{176