Apparatus for monitoring the motion of the lumbar spine

An apparatus for monitoring the movement of the lumbar spine during flexion and extension of the trunk of a patient, and during trunk twisting, and comprising

• a main frame,
• a horizontal platform adapted to support a patient in standing position thereupon,
• means mounting said platform to said main frame for rotation about a vertical axis and for locking said platform in a selected rotational position,
• a lever arm,
• means mounting said lever arm to said main frame for rotation about a horizontal axis with said lever arm extending generally radially therefrom, and with said horizontal axis being positioned to pass approximately through the lumbro-sacral junction of a patient while the patient is standing upon said platform
• a first upper body engaging member mounted to said lever arm for engaging the upper body portion of a patient standing upon said platform and so that flexion and extension of the trunk of the patient causes said lever arm to pivot about said horizontal axis in at least one direction,
• first dynamometer means including a first drive motor which is operatively connected to said lever arm for controlling the pivotal movement thereof in each pivotal direction,
• a twist supporting frame mounted to said main frame for rotation about a twisting axis which is generally perpendicular to said horizontal axis,
• a second upper body engaging member mounted to said twist supporting frame for engaging the upper body portion of a patient standing upon said platform and such that twisting of the trunk of the patient causes said second upper body engaging member and said twist supporting frame to twist about said twisting axis, and
• second dynamometer means including a second drive motor which is operatively connected to said twist supporting frame for controlling twisting movement of said second upper body engaging member and said twist supporting frame about said twisting axis,
• an overhead frame assembly pivotally mounted to said main frame for pivotal movement about Said horizontal axis, and including a horizontal beam which extends above said platform, and with said twist supporting frame being pivotally mounted to said beam for rotation about said twisting axis, and
• actuator means for moving said overhead frame assembly to a selected rotational position and locking the same in such position,
• whereby the patient may selectively perform flexion and extension of the trunk about said horizontal axis while said first dynamometer means controls the pivotal movement of said lever arm, or perform twisting of the trunk and while said second dynamometer means controls the twisting movement of said second upper body engaging member.