A new instrument to assess animal joint stiffnessin vitro

✍ Scribed by Gilbert, Jerome A. ;Eylers, John ;Banes, Albert J.

• Book ID: 102292065
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 351 KB
• Volume: 19
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9304
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.820190512

✦ Synopsis

In recent years there have been a number of investigations of the effects of immobilization on the biochemistry and mechanics of joint tissue.14 The lack of normal motion of the joint initiates a complex response resulting in an increase in the resistance to normal joint motion. An important element in any such study is the objective assessment of the degree of mechanical stiffness of the joints. This requires a testing apparatus specifically designed for the particular animal to be used. A device2 designed for use with a rabbit knee has been used in studies correlating biochemical and biomechanical effects of immob i l i t ~, ~ as well as to assess the effectiveness of drug the rap^.^ Similar studies in progress in this laboratory using an avian model to study tendon healing require a different testing device. This article describes the construction and operation of a chicken foot arthrograph as applied to a pilot study of avian limb immobilization.