Evaluation of head and neck motion with the hemispherical shell method

This paper presents the development of a simple method for the measurement of head motion for patients with neck injuries. The patients with neck injuries pose unique problems and the existing methods mostly using goniometers are not suitable for their evaluation in a clinical setting. The presented method involves the use of a hemispherical shell mounted with the help of a frame over the head of the patient. Two light sources are mounted on the patient's head and the readings are taken from circular scales marked on the outer shell surface. Equations are developed to convert these readings into the ranges of head motion. The results obtained with the presented method for normal adults are compared with the results from the previous methods. The data for the patients with neck injuries will be useful in the individualized design of instruments such as headstick operated keyboards, computers or keyboard-like devices. Relevance to industry - For the industrial employment of patients with neck injuries, an accurate evaluation of their abilities is important, particularly when job modifications are needed so that they can be viable employees in industry. The head motion obtained with this new method for patients with neck injuries will be useful in the individualized design of instruments such as headstick operated keyboards, computer interfaces, communication devices or keyboard-like devices. The proposed method is simple, inexpensive, reasonably accurate and can be used in a clinical setting. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.