Poignet et main : bilan articulaire

Currently, at the time when the concepts of evaluation, assessment, and score are involved in almost all our activities, the measurement of the range of motion is considered a common procedure, easy to be performed, sometimes fastidious due to the number of joints involved. In fact, such assessment needs a perfect knowledge of not only the joint anatomy but also the neuromuscular aspects. Regarding the actual quality requirements, this measurement must be validated, i.e. it has to meet some definite standardized criteria as to be accepted and widely recognised. However, since some computerisation techniques may improve its quality in terms of data input, data management, and result presentation, this method is today largely evolving. Multiple potentialities allow providing specific responses to specific needs, such as in contexts as different as post-surgery evaluation, rehabilitation follow-up or expertise of bodily damage. Today the most frequently used techniques are the goniometer and the paper record cards, digitized or not. However, after promising results in the research field, the computerised techniques of data input and management and digital cams are likely to become widely used in daily clinical practice.