Centroid position estimating method for observational analysis.
Tsutomu Fukui, Yasuhisa Ueda, Masashi Chiyomaru and 2 others
PMID 37670758WHAT IT FOUND
Watching the upper body move opposite to the lower body helps estimate center of mass without lab equipment.
Clinicians can visually judge joint stress by observing if the trunk is anterior or posterior relative to the hips and knees.
Key findings
01Estimating the body's center of mass by observing the relative position of the upper and lower body segments showed errors small enough for clinical use.
02The upper body tends to move in the opposite direction to the lower body to keep the center of mass within the base of support.
03Visualizing the anterior or posterior position of the upper body relative to the lower body helps infer whether hip or knee extensor muscles are bearing more load.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only included healthy young males, so the results may not apply to women, older adults, or people with existing musculoskeletal conditions. The method was only tested on four specific movements (bending, squatting, walking), so it is unclear how well it works for other daily activities. The 'visual' method described still relies on specific anatomical landmarks (like Th8 or mid-thigh) which may be difficult to pinpoint accurately in all body types without practice.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this method works for patients with pain or disability. The study used healthy males with normal movement patterns, so the relationship between trunk position and joint load may be different in those compensating for injury.