Typical tracking results of tissue displacement waveform of an elderly female human subject.

<p>(a) obtained under 0% MVC level (at rest), (b) 50% MVC level, and (c) 100% MVC level. The corresponding shear moduli for (a) to (c) were 9 kPa, 213 kPa, and 574 kPa. The solid line represents the tissue displacement waveforms detected at the proximal location, and the dashed line at the distal location, with reference to the vibration source.</p

Correlation between the shear modulus values assessed by indentation method and the corresponding values measured by the vibro-ultrasound method.

<p>Correlation between the shear modulus values assessed by indentation method and the corresponding values measured by the vibro-ultrasound method.</p

The averaged VI shear modulus of ten elderly healthy female subjects and that of ten young healthy female subjects, plotted with the different relative isometric contraction levels (% MVC torque).

<p>The error bar represents the standard deviation among the 10 subjects.</p

Comparison of the shear moduli between (a) 15 mm and 20 mm; and (b) 25 mm and 20 mm, revealed that the vibrator-beam distance appeared to affect very little on the measurement result of shear modulus.

<p>Comparison of the shear moduli between (a) 15 mm and 20 mm; and (b) 25 mm and 20 mm, revealed that the vibrator-beam distance appeared to affect very little on the measurement result of shear modulus.</p

Diagram of the vibro-ultrasound system for shear wave velocity measurement using two ultrasound scan lines (left) and the position of the ultrasound probe and the vibrator during the experiment on one human subject (right).

<p>The three positions of the vibrator used for the different vibro-beam distance test were also indicated.</p

Positions for spinal flexibility assessment.

<p>(a) standing (b) supine (c) prone (d) sitting with lateral bending (e) prone with lateral bending.</p

An effective assessment method of spinal flexibility to predict the initial in-orthosis correction on the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)

<div><p>Background</p><p>Spinal flexibility is an essential parameter for clinical decision making on the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Various methods are proposed to assess spinal flexibility, but which assessment method is more effective to predict the effect of orthotic treatment is unclear.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To investigate an effective assessment method of spinal flexibility to predict the initial in-orthosis correction, among the supine, prone, sitting with lateral bending and prone with lateral bending positions.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Thirty-five patients with AIS (mean Cobb angle: 28° ± 7°; mean age: 12 ± 2 years; Risser sign: 0–2) were recruited. Before orthosis fitting, spinal flexibility was assessed by an ultrasound system in 4 positions (apart from standing) including supine, prone, sitting with lateral bending and prone with lateral bending. After orthosis fitting, the initial in-orthosis correction was routinely assessed by whole spine standing radiograph. Comparisons and correlation analyses were performed between the spinal flexibility in the 4 positions and the initial in-orthosis correction.</p><p>Results</p><p>The mean in-orthosis correction was 41% while the mean curve correction (spinal flexibility) in the 4 studied positions were 40% (supine), 42% (prone), 127% (prone with lateral bending) and 143% (sitting with lateral bending). The correlation coefficients between initial in-orthosis correction and curve correction (spinal flexibility) in the 4 studied positions were r = 0.66 (supine), r = 0.75 (prone), r = 0.03 (prone with lateral bending) and r = 0.04 (sitting with lateral bending).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The spinal flexibility in the prone position is the closest to and most correlated with the initial in-orthosis correction among the 4 studied positions. Thus, the prone position could be an effective method to predict the initial effect of orthotic treatment on the patients with AIS.</p></div

An effective assessment method of spinal flexibility to predict the initial in-orthosis correction on the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) - Fig 2

<p>Ultrasound images in (a) standing position (b) supine position (c) prone position (d) sitting with lateral bending position (e) prone with lateral bending position. The left thoracolumbar curve ranged from T8 to L3 (apex at T11) with the magnitude of 26.6° in standing position, 13.5° in supine position, 12.3° in prone position, -19° in sitting with lateral bending position, and -12.8° in prone with lateral bending position (negative value refers to the curve being corrected to the opposite direction).</p

Patient demographic data.

<p>Patient demographic data.</p