Goniometer
Goniometer
A Goniometer (/ɡɒniˈɒmɪtər/; from Ancient Greek: γωνία, gonia, meaning "angle", and μέτρον, metron, meaning "measure") is a medical instrument that measures the range of motion around a joint in the body. It is commonly used in physical therapy, orthopedics, and chiropractic treatments.
Etymology
The term "goniometer" is derived from the Ancient Greek words γωνία (gonia), meaning "angle", and μέτρον (metron), meaning "measure". It was first used in the English language in the early 19th century.
Usage
A goniometer is used to measure the range of motion around a joint in the body. This is particularly useful in assessing the progress of rehabilitation in patients with joint injuries or conditions such as arthritis or bursitis. The goniometer is placed over the joint, with the axis of the instrument aligned with the axis of the joint. The arms of the goniometer are then aligned with the long axis of the bones forming the joint, and the angle formed by these arms is read off the scale on the instrument.
Related Terms
- Arthritis: A group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the joints.
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the bones, tendons, and muscles near a joint.
- Orthopedics: The branch of medicine dealing with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles.
- Physical Therapy: The treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery.
- Chiropractic: A system of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Goniometer
- Wikipedia's article - Goniometer
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