About The ROM Assessor Biomechanics Tool

The ROM Assessor biomechanics tool has been developed from a concept by Geoff Strauss as a variation on the Motion Tracker tool. The html5 and Javascript enabling its delivery on the web has been coded by James Strauss. It should also be acknowledged that a paper by . . . was of value in developing the initial concept.

The Video settings enable the following actions:

• An Import button enables a pre-recorded video file to be imported (mp4 for Chrome and Safari, ogv for Firefox)
• The Frame Rate of the video to be selected from a drop-down menu is displayed (not automatically detected, manually selected)
• The Dimensions of the video to be updated are displayed (automatically following video import)
• A Playback Speed Multiplier allows the movie to be replayed in slow motion or fast motion as fractions of the recorded video frame rate
• The Joint is extracted from the metadata of the video file imported or selected from a dropdown menu following video import
• The Movement is extracted from the metadata of the video file imported or selected from a dropdown menu following video import
• The Side is extracted from the metadata of the video file imported or selected from a dropdown menu following video import
• Instrument allows the selection of one of three instruments from the dropdown menu. The instruments are a goniometer, and inclinometer and a dual inclinometer.
• Instrument Size allows the instrument selected above to be scaled in size for ease of use or visualisation. The slider setting is then displayed.

The Analysis settings display the following data and enable the following actions:

• Reference Point Coordinates allows the display of the x-y coordinates of up to 4 reference points. The number of points varies according to the instrument selected to perform the ROM assessment. A digital inclinometer requires 2 reference points, a normal goniometer requires 3 reference points, and a dual inclinometer system requires 4 reference points. A point must be selected and digitised for the x-y coordinates to be updated.
• Current Angle displays the angle of the moveable arm of the instrument (aligned or attached to the moveable body segment) for that particular frame in the video. A single inclinometer or a goniometer would be selected as the preferred instrument when there is a fixed body segment (that doesn't move during the measurement procedure) and a moveable body segment (that moves from a start position at one end of the joint ROM to a finish position at the other end of the ROM). A goniometer or a dual inclinometer would be selected as the preferred instrument when neither body segment is fixed, that is, when both body segments move.
• The first Capture button enables the Current Angle to be saved. The angle should be captured when the video is at the start position in the ROM and all reference point coordinates have been digitised.
• The second Capture button also enables the Current Angle to be saved. The angle should be captured when the video is at the end position in the ROM and all reference point coordinates have been digitised.
• "Range of Motion is" displays the difference in angle between the end position and the start position.
• The Clear Points button resets all reference point coordinates to zero.

Reference

Geoff and James Strauss October 2013.