Goniometry: Short Questions & Answers for Physical Therapy

Posted on May 5, 2024 in Physical Education

SHORT QUESTIONS: Goniometry

Joint Movements

1. Classes of Joint Movements

Simple Analytical Movement

Movement involving only one joint.

Overall Analytical Movement

Movement involving multiple joints.

Specific or Intimate Joint Movements

Passive movements performed by a physical therapist due to the patient’s inability to actively perform them. Types include:

  • Landslide: Movement of one point of a joint facet over various points of another facet.
  • Rotary: Movement of various points of a joint facet over various points of another facet.
  • Giro: Movement of various points of a joint facet around an axis.
Traction

Passive movement where a joint segment moves along the joint axis (axial traction) or concerning the bone diaphysis (diaphyseal traction).

2. Foot Movements

The foot exhibits 10 distinct movements:

  1. Dorsal Flexion (Flexion of the Foot): The dorsal aspect of the foot moves closer to the tibial shaft with a slight external oblique motion.
  2. Plantar Flexion (Extension of the Foot): The plantar surface of the foot approaches the tibial shaft with a slight internal oblique motion.
  3. Adduction: Movement around a vertical axis in a horizontal plane, bringing the distal end of the foot inward.
  4. Abduction: Movement around a vertical axis in a horizontal plane, bringing the distal end of the foot outward.
  5. Supination: Tilting the foot inward around its longitudinal axis in a frontal plane.
  6. Pronation: Tilting the foot outward around its longitudinal axis in a frontal plane.
  7. Varus Movement: Combination of adduction and supination without flexion or extension.
  8. Valgus Movement: Combination of abduction and pronation without flexion or extension.
  9. Inversion: Three-dimensional movement combining varus with plantar flexion around Henke’s axis (oblique from back to front, bottom to top, and inside to outside).
  10. Eversion: Three-dimensional movement combining valgus with dorsiflexion, reversing Henke’s axis.

Angles in Goniometry

3. Alpha Angle

Measured from a top view, representing the relationship between the clavicle and scapular spine with the vertex at the upper edge of the acromion. Normal value: 60°.

4. Beta Angle

Measured from a top view, representing the obliquity of the scapular spine concerning the frontal plane (biacromial line) with the vertex at the upper edge of the acromion. Normal value: 50°.

5. Angle A

Measured from a dorsal view, representing the obliquity of the scapular spine concerning the horizontal edge with the vertex at the postero-external acromion. Normal value: 27° +/- 10°.

6. Angle B

Measured from a dorsal view, representing the obliquity of the scapular axillary border concerning the horizontal or vertical with the vertex at the center of the glenohumeral joint. Normal value: 45° +/- 9°.

7. Q Angle

Measured from a ventral view, representing the obliquity of the knee extensor mechanism (alignment of patellar and quadriceps tendons). A value greater than 10° indicates potential problems for the patellofemoral joint.

Concave-Convex Law

8. Law of Concave-Convex

Describes the sliding and rolling movements of two joint surfaces, one concave and one convex, depending on the mobile piece and the direction of movement:

  • When the concave surface is mobile, sliding occurs in the same direction as the segmental movement (no bearing).
  • When the convex surface is mobile, sliding occurs in the opposite direction of the tangential movement (bearing and sliding).

In reality, both surfaces move simultaneously, with no fixed body segment.

Skin Characteristics

9. Skin Characteristics

  • Palmar Hand Consistency
  • Back Elasticity
  • Flexible Interdigital Commissures