JPH11290301A - Quadriceps muscle strength measurement device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a portable device that can easily measure the muscular strength of a quadriceps femoris of a subject on a medical table or a bed. SOLUTION: An ankle supporting base 3 capable of fixing an ankle portion of a lower limb of a subject 20 and slidable in a front-rear direction on a base 1, and a knee supporting base 6 for supporting a sole of a lower limb are provided. The height of the back support 6 is adjusted by replacing the back height adjustment plates 7 and 8 with ones having different thicknesses, and the knee is bent under the condition that the bending angle of the knee is adjusted to a predetermined angle. The ankle is supported by the support 6 and the ankle is fixed to the ankle support 3. When a force is applied to extend the lower limb in this state, a load corresponding to the muscular strength of the quadriceps femoris, indicated by arrow F, is applied to the back of the knee support 6. This load is detected by the strain gauge load detector 9 and displayed on the measured value display device 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device, and more particularly to a device capable of easily measuring the quadriceps femoris muscle strength of a subject on a bed or an examination table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been no device capable of easily measuring the muscular strength of a quadriceps femoris of a subject on a bed or an examination table. The quadriceps is the muscle at the front of the thigh,
It is an important muscle for people to stand up and to stabilize their knees. Older people may fall asleep in bed for an extended period of time or have weak quadriceps muscles in older people, making it difficult to get up or walk. In order to determine the muscle strength of a person with weak muscles in this way, a physician has conventionally been clinical,
(Manual muscle test) was performed, and judgment was made by looking at the subject. This test is
Observed by the subject such as 5 points when they can move against the maximum resistance added at the end of the range of motion, 3 points when they can move against gravity, and 0 points when they cannot contract at all.
The evaluation was performed with a score from 5 to 5 points.
However, in this determination method, a doctor makes a rough determination by visually observing or palpating the subject, and does not represent the muscle strength as an objective numerical value, and the subject has a reproducible numerical value of his or her own muscle strength. Could not figure out.

A device capable of measuring the muscle strength of the quadriceps femoris is Cybex (trade name, CYB of the United States).
There is a device referred to as an EX company's muscular strength evaluation training device). This device allows the subject to sit in a special chair, and secures the upper body with a seat belt so that only the knees can be extended and flexed,
This device measures the speed and torque at that time by bending the knee. The muscle strength of the quadriceps can be measured by the torque when the knee is extended. However, this device is a large-scale device in which a special chair and a device for measuring bending and extension of the knee are integrated, and is usually a device installed in a corner of a measurement room and provided with a specialized operator. Therefore, in order to measure muscle strength, it is necessary for the subject to go to the measurement room and have the measurement performed by a specialized operator. For this reason,
There was a problem that the muscular strength of the subject on the examination table or bed could not be easily measured on the spot. Also, the equipment was large and expensive, so it could not be installed in any hospital.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the invention of claim 1 of the present invention is a portable device which can easily measure the muscular strength of the quadriceps femoris of a subject on a consultation table or a bed. The purpose is to provide. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of more accurately measuring the strength of the quadriceps femoris, in addition to the object of the present invention.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, an invention according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a base, a base slidably supported on the base, and a lower limb. An ankle support that can fix an ankle part, a knee support that is fixed on the base and abuts and supports the back of the knee of the lower limb, and a knee sole that allows the height of the knee support to be adjustable It is characterized by comprising height adjustment means, load detection means for detecting a load applied to the back of the knee support, and a measured value display device for displaying the load detected by the load detection means. Here, the back sole height adjusting means is means for adjusting the height of the back sole supporting the pressing force from the lower limb by abutting against the back of the knee of the lower limb. And the link mechanism to adjust the height of the back of the knee, or interpose a back height adjustment plate between the back of the knee and the base. Such as how to exchange for
All means for changing the height of the back of the knee support. Also, here, the load detecting means is a means for detecting the load of the lower back of the knee pressing the back of the knee downward, and specifically, a load meter using a spring scale or a strain gauge. Refers to all means for detecting the load applied to the back of the knee, such as the load meter used.

[0006] With this configuration, it is possible to easily measure the muscular strength of the quadriceps femoris of the subject on the examination table or bed. That is, the subject is allowed to sit on the bed, stand upright, and take a posture in which the lower limbs are thrown forward. Then, the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device according to the present invention is placed on the bed, and is placed on the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device with one of the lower limbs, for example, the right leg slightly bent. At this time, the knee is placed on the back of the knee so that the center of the knee joint coincides with the center of the back of the knee, and the ankle is fixed to the ankle support. Since the ankle support is slidably supported on the base in a horizontal direction, the ankle support slides according to the length of the lower limb of the subject and fixes the ankle. Next, the height of the knee back support is adjusted by the knee height adjusting means, and the bending angle of the slightly bent knee is adjusted to a predetermined constant value, for example, 15 degrees. When the subject fully extends the knee in this posture, the back of the knee presses the back of the knee down with a force corresponding to the muscle strength of the quadriceps femoris. The pressing force is detected by the load detecting means and displayed on the measured value display device. The load displayed on the measured value display device is suitable for evaluating the strength of the quadriceps muscle,
If the bending angle of the knee placed on the back of the knee is kept at a predetermined constant value each time the measurement is performed, the load displayed on the measured value display device indicates a reproducible measured value.

Here, as in the second aspect of the present invention, the measured value display device applies a load applied to the back of the knee in a state in which no force is applied to the lower limb from a load applied to the back of the knee during measurement. And an offset correction means for subtracting and displaying the offset amount. When formed in this manner, the lower limb is placed on the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measurement device according to the present invention, and the subject presses down on the back of the knee due to the weight of the lower limb itself in a state where the subject does not apply force to the lower limb. The load is corrected as an offset amount, and only the load corresponding to the muscle strength of the quadriceps that occurs when force is applied to extend the lower limb is displayed on the measurement value display device, and the muscle strength of the quadriceps is measured more accurately can do. Here, as the offset amount correcting means, a microcomputer is provided in the measured value display device, and the microcomputer has an empty load storing means for storing a load detected in a state where no force is applied to the lower limb, It is easily realized by providing a calculation means for subtracting the load stored in the empty load storage means from the load detected in a state where a force is applied, and a measured value display means for displaying the load calculated by the calculation means. it can.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view, and FIG. 4 is a front view. The base 1 is a rectangular plate-like member, and has two rectangular recesses 1A and 1B formed on the upper surface. The base 1 is made of light wood or aluminum. In the front recess 1A, two slide bars 2, 2 each formed of a round bar are provided in the front-rear direction. A block-shaped ankle support 3 having a saddle-shaped upper surface guided by the slide bars 2 and 2 is mounted on the base 1 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. Most of the ankle support 3 is made of a hard urethane resin, and only a surface portion of the ankle supporting table 3 that contacts the ankle is made of a soft urethane resin. An ankle fastening band 4 for fastening an ankle of a subject is attached to the ankle support 3. The ankle fastening band 4 is made of magic tape on one side, and the ankle of the subject is fastened or released by the adhesive tape of the magic tape.

On the other hand, strain gauge load detectors 9, 9, 9, 9 are provided at four corners in the recess 1B behind the base 1, and a plate-like shape is fitted thereon so as to fit into the recess 1B. A back support base 10 is provided. Knee back height adjustment plates 7 and 8 are stacked on the central portion of the back support base 10, and a block-shaped back support 6 having a saddle-shaped upper surface is mounted thereon. Knee back support base 10, Knee back height adjustment plate 7,
Numerals 8 are each made of a hard urethane resin. Most of the back support 6 is made of a hard urethane resin, and only a surface portion of the back abutment that comes into contact with the back of the knee is made of a soft urethane resin. Central part of the upper surface of the back support base 10, upper and lower surfaces of the back height adjustment plates 7 and 8, and the back support 6
A magic tape is stuck to the entire lower surface of each of the members, and the members 6, 7, 8 stacked on the back of the knee support base 10 are fixed or separated from each other by the adhesion and peeling of the magic tape portions. You can do it. Four strain gauge load detectors 9, 9, 9, 9
Constitutes a load detecting means for detecting a load applied to the back of the knee support 6.

[0010] Knee back height adjustment plates 7 and 8 are prepared in various thicknesses, and knee back height adjustment plates 7 and 8 having an appropriate thickness are provided.
The height of the back support 6 is adjusted by selecting and combining. The knee height adjustment plates 7 and 8 constitute knee height adjustment means that can adjust the height of the knee support 6.

A measurement value display device 5 is provided in front of the base 1 on the right hand side. The measurement value display device 5 includes a display section 51 made of liquid crystal and displaying a measurement value, a reset button 5
2. A setting button 53 is provided. The measurement value display device 5 includes a microcomputer. The microcomputer calculates the sum of the loads detected by the strain gauge load detectors 9, 9, 9, 9 at the four corners, and displays the total on the display unit 51. When the reset button 52 is pressed, the load at that time is stored in the empty load storage means in the microcomputer, and the display on the display unit 51 is temporarily reset to 0 (K).
As g), thereafter, a load obtained by subtracting the load stored in the empty load storage means from the load detected by the strain gauge load detector 9 is displayed on the display unit 51. The procedure in the microcomputer constitutes an offset amount correcting means.

The setting button 53 is used when the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device is used as a training device for improving the muscle strength of the quadriceps femoris, and an appropriate numerical value (for example, 50 kg) is displayed by the setting button 53. Once set in the section 51, the subject applies force so that the lower limb is extended and presses the back of the knee support 6 with the back of the knee, and each time the load reaches a set value (for example, 50 kg), the number of times is increased. In the microcomputer described above is displayed on the display unit 51. The power source of the microcomputer and the display unit 51 is a battery (not shown),
Since the battery is built in the measured value display device 5, there is no need to pull the cord from a commercial power source, the portable device is convenient, and the quadriceps muscle strength measuring device can be carried anywhere.

At the rear end of the base 1, two base support rods 12,
Reference numeral 12 is inserted and mounted in the horizontal holes 1C and 1C of the base 1. The base support rods 12, 12 are pulled out from the base 1 when using the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device as shown in the figure, and the effective length of the base 1 is made longer than the base body to increase the moment. However, when the subject applies force to fix the ankle and extend the lower limb, the front end of the base 1 is prevented from lifting. When the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measurement device is not used, slide the base support rods 12
C and 1C to facilitate carrying the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device.

At the left and right of the back support 6 on the base 1, mounting holes 13 and 14 are provided for erecting the knee position indicator rod 11. The positions of the mounting holes 13 and 14 are provided so as to be on the saddle-shaped center line of the back support table 6 against which the back of the knee comes into contact. When the lower leg of the subject is placed on the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device and the back of the knee is brought into close contact with the back of the knee support 6, the position of the knee joint is determined by the saddle shape of the back of the knee support 6. It is an indicator bar that guides the robot to be on the center line. 3 and 4, the knee position indicator rod 11 is set up in the right mounting hole 13. When the knee position indicator rod 11 is set up in the right mounting hole 13, the muscular strength of the right lower limb is measured. When moving the right lower limb from the left side of the quadriceps muscle strength measuring apparatus onto the apparatus, the knee position indicator rod 1
This is to prevent 1 from getting in the way. When measuring the muscular strength of the left lower limb, the knee position indicator rod 11 is set up on the left mounting hole 14.

The method of use and operation will be described based on the above configuration. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a use state of the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device. The subject 20 is allowed to sit on the bed 30, stand up, and take a posture in which the lower limbs are thrown forward. In the figure, 21 is a vertebra, 22 is a femur,
23 is a lower leg bone, 24 is a patella (shoulder), 25 is a quadriceps, and one tendon 2 connected to the quadriceps 25
6 is attached to the lower leg 23 over the patella 24.

The subject 20 is seated on the bed 30, stands upright and throws the lower limbs forward, and the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present invention is placed on the bed 30. Slide under your right foot. At this time, the back of the knee is placed on the sole support 6 with the right knee slightly bent, and the knee position indicator rod 11 is checked with the knee position indicator rod 11 so that the center of the knee joint coincides with the center of the sole support 6. The front and rear positions of the base 1 of the quadriceps strength measuring apparatus are adjusted. When the front / rear position of the base 1 is determined, the base support rods 12, 12 are pulled out fully to the rear.

Then, the ankle is placed on the ankle support 3. Since the ankle support 3 is supported on the base 1 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction, the ankle support 3 slides according to the length of the lower limb of the subject 20 and moves to an appropriate position to fix the ankle. . As a result, the subject's lower limb is supported by the sole support 6 and the ankle support 3. Next, the bending angle of the knee slightly bent by the back of the knee support 6 and the ankle support 3 is measured by a goniometer (a kind of goniometer),
It is checked whether or not the predetermined constant value is, for example, 15 degrees. If the predetermined constant value is not reached, the height of the knee back support 6 is adjusted by replacing the knee height adjustment plates 7 and 8 below the knee back support 6 with those having different thicknesses, and The bending angle is adjusted to a predetermined constant value, for example, 15 degrees. The connection between the back support table 6 and the back height adjustment plates 7 and 8 depends on Velcro, so that they can be easily attached and detached. When the adjustment of the knee bending angle is completed, the ankle is tightened with the ankle fastening band 4.
To secure it to the ankle support 3.

In this state, the load number Kg corresponding to the weight of the lower limb is displayed on the display section 51 of the measured value display device 5. Then, when the reset button 52 is pressed, the load is stored in the microcomputer in the measured value display device 5 as an offset amount, and the display on the display unit 51 is reset to 0 kg. When the subject fully extends the knee in this position, the back of the knee presses the back of the knee support 6 downward with a force corresponding to the muscular strength of the quadriceps 25 as shown by the arrow F in the figure. . The pressing force is determined by four strain gauge load detectors 9.
Is displayed on the display unit 51 of the measured value display device 5 as a value obtained by subtracting the offset amount corresponding to the weight of the lower limb. The load displayed on the display unit 51 directly corresponds to the muscular strength of the quadriceps 25, and the bending angle of the knee placed on the back of the knee support 6 at each measurement is set to a predetermined constant value (for example, 15 degrees). , The reproducible measurement value corresponding to the muscular strength of the quadriceps 25 can be displayed on the display unit 51.

Here, when the quadriceps femoris 25 is to be extended, the ankle fastening band 4 is subjected to a pulling force, and the front end of the base 1 is raised.
The front end of the base 1 will not be lifted because the effective length behind the base 1 is long since the bases 2 and 12 are fully pulled out rearward.
Also, if the upper body of the subject 20 falls forward during the measurement of the strength of the quadriceps 25, a part of the load of the upper body will be applied to the back of the knee support 6, so that the subject should be careful not to fall the upper body. There is a need. For this reason, it is also effective to prepare something like a chair and put the subject's back upright against the backrest.

Although the method for measuring muscle strength with the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the present invention has been described above, the present apparatus can be used as a muscle strength training apparatus for quadriceps femoris muscles. The method will be described. As in the case of measuring the muscular strength, the sole of the lower leg of the subject is placed on the sole support 6 and the ankle is placed on the ankle support 3. Then, the height of the knee back support 6 is adjusted with the knee height adjusting plates 7 and 8 so that the knee bending angle becomes a predetermined constant value (for example, 15 degrees), and the ankle is fastened to the ankle fastening band. 4 fastens and fixes to the ankle support 3. Next, the reset button 52 is pressed and the display unit 51 is pressed.
Is reset to 0 kg, and the load corresponding to the weight of the lower limb is stored as an offset amount in the microcomputer in the measured value display device 5. The procedure up to this point is the same as when measuring muscle strength.

The value of about 80% of the muscle strength of the quadriceps muscle measured last time by the setting button 53 is displayed on the display unit 51.
Set once. For example, the muscle strength measured last time is 50kg
If so, set 40 kg. After waiting for a while after setting, the display on the display unit 51 becomes zero. The preparation is completed as described above. Thereafter, the subject applies force to extend the lower limbs and presses the back of the knee support 6 with the back of the knee, and the number of times is displayed each time the load reaches a set value (for example, 40 kg). It is displayed on the unit 51. The subject applies force to extend the lower limb and the load is set to a set value (for example, 40K).
By training to apply force to the lower limbs about several tens of times a day until reaching g), it is possible to effectively increase the strength of the quadriceps femoris without applying an excessive load to the subject. .

In the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring apparatus according to the embodiment described above, the power supply of the measured value display device 5 is a battery and does not require a commercial power supply, so that it is extremely portable, and it is extremely portable. The device can be carried anywhere, such as for muscle strength measurement and training. In addition, the combination of the knee sole height adjustment plates 7 and 8 for adjusting the height of the knee sole support 6 so that the knee flexion angle becomes a predetermined constant value (for example, 15 degrees) at the time of measurement is the same for the same subject. Since the same may be used, only the assistant is required at the time of the first knee height adjustment, and from the second time, the knee sole height adjustment plates 7 and 8 can be combined alone and the muscle strength measurement and training can be performed independently. it can. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the measured value display device 5 is provided with the offset amount correcting means, the influence of the weight of the lower limb can be eliminated, and the muscular strength of the quadriceps can be measured more accurately. Also,
In the above-described embodiment, the measurement value display device 5 is provided with an offset amount correction unit to eliminate the influence of the weight of the lower limb.
Even without such a function, it is possible to obtain a numerical value for objectively evaluating the muscular strength of the quadriceps femoris, albeit somewhat inaccurately.

[0023]

As described above, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is excellent in that the muscular strength of the quadriceps femoris of a subject can be easily measured on an examination table or a bed. effective. Further, the invention according to claim 2 has an effect that, in addition to the effect of the above-mentioned invention, the muscle strength of the quadriceps can be measured more accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a use state of a quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 3 Ankle support 5 Measurement value display device 6 Knee back support 7, 8 Knee back height adjustment plate (Knee back height adjustment means) 9 Strain gauge load detector (Load detection means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base, an ankle support supported on the base so as to be slidable in a horizontal direction and capable of fixing an ankle of a lower limb, and a knee sole of the lower limb fixed on the base. Back support that abuts on and supports the back, knee height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the back support, load detection means for detecting the load applied to the back support, and the load And a measurement value display device for displaying a load detected by the detection means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement value display device includes an offset amount correcting means for subtracting and displaying a load applied to the back of the knee when no force is applied to the lower limb from a load applied to the back of the knee during measurement. The quadriceps femoris muscle strength measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: