Doctor, when can I drive?-the range of elbow motion while driving a car.
Driving fitness
elbow
forensic medicine
range of motion
traffic medicine
trauma surgery
Journal
Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery
ISSN: 1532-6500
Titre abrégé: J Shoulder Elbow Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9206499
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2019
Jun 2019
Historique:
received:
11
07
2018
revised:
17
11
2018
accepted:
19
11
2018
pubmed:
17
2
2019
medline:
8
8
2019
entrez:
17
2
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Immobilization of the upper extremity after an acute injury or postoperatively affects an individual's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The elbow is particularly sensitive to immobilization, with subsequent stiffness leading to functional limitations. Most activities of daily living are successfully achieved within a "functional arc" of elbow motion between 30° and 130° of flexion. No objective guidelines exist regarding the range of motion needed to safely operate a vehicle. In this study, we measured the range of motion of right and left elbows while driving a manual-transmission car. Using electro-goniometers, we measured the flexion and extension, as well as pronation and supination, of the right and left elbows in 20 healthy, right hand-dominant subjects while driving a car. These measurements were recorded on (1) city streets, (2) country roads, and (3) highways. For city streets, the range of motion in terms of flexion and pronation/supination was 15°-105° and 0°-45°/0°-35°, respectively, for the right elbow and 20°-95° and 0°-45°/0°-40°, respectively, for the left. For country roads, it was 10°-100° and 0°-40°/0°-35°, respectively, for the right elbow and 20°-95° and 0°-30°/0°-30°, respectively, for the left. For highways, it was 5°-100° and 0°-40°/0°-35°, respectively, for the right elbow and 20°-90° and 0°-30°/0°-25°, respectively, for the left. Mean pronation was significantly higher for the right elbow (P < .01). This study describes the range of elbow motion identified to drive a car with a manual transmission and a left-sided steering wheel. Mean pronation of the right elbow is significantly higher than that of the left. Further studies are needed to investigate the relevance of movement restrictions as they relate to handedness, steering-wheel side, and driving impairment.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Immobilization of the upper extremity after an acute injury or postoperatively affects an individual's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The elbow is particularly sensitive to immobilization, with subsequent stiffness leading to functional limitations. Most activities of daily living are successfully achieved within a "functional arc" of elbow motion between 30° and 130° of flexion. No objective guidelines exist regarding the range of motion needed to safely operate a vehicle. In this study, we measured the range of motion of right and left elbows while driving a manual-transmission car.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
METHODS
Using electro-goniometers, we measured the flexion and extension, as well as pronation and supination, of the right and left elbows in 20 healthy, right hand-dominant subjects while driving a car. These measurements were recorded on (1) city streets, (2) country roads, and (3) highways.
RESULTS
RESULTS
For city streets, the range of motion in terms of flexion and pronation/supination was 15°-105° and 0°-45°/0°-35°, respectively, for the right elbow and 20°-95° and 0°-45°/0°-40°, respectively, for the left. For country roads, it was 10°-100° and 0°-40°/0°-35°, respectively, for the right elbow and 20°-95° and 0°-30°/0°-30°, respectively, for the left. For highways, it was 5°-100° and 0°-40°/0°-35°, respectively, for the right elbow and 20°-90° and 0°-30°/0°-25°, respectively, for the left. Mean pronation was significantly higher for the right elbow (P < .01).
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This study describes the range of elbow motion identified to drive a car with a manual transmission and a left-sided steering wheel. Mean pronation of the right elbow is significantly higher than that of the left. Further studies are needed to investigate the relevance of movement restrictions as they relate to handedness, steering-wheel side, and driving impairment.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30770312
pii: S1058-2746(18)30883-8
doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2018.11.053
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
1139-1145Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2018 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.