Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40223140›Full record

Trial reportScientific reports2025

Evaluation of a novel elbow joint torque measurement device in healthy subjects and stroke patients: a randomized trial.

Qingqin Xu, Mengxuan Hu, Lei Li, Shi Chen, Bo Liu, Jianwei Lu, Hemu Chen

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Qingqin Xu *College of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Mengxuan Hu *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China.
Lei Li *Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Anhui, China.
Shi ChenDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China.
Bo LiuInformatization Office, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. liubo@shutcm.edu.cn.
Jianwei LuCollege of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. jwlu33@tongji.edu.cn.
Hemu ChenDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China. chenhemu@ahmu.edu.cn.

Funding

This work was supported by the Anhui Provincial Department of Education 2022AH051160
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Current clinical practice lacks quantitative assessment methods for elbow joint movements. In response to existing research limitations, this study introduces the innovative elbow joint torque measurement device (EJTMD), which concurrently measures muscle strength and active range of motion (AROM) using a five-bar linkage system governed by a sliding mode control algorithm. Healthy subjects (n = 22) and stroke patients (n = 22) were recruited in a randomized trial. Each participant underwent two measurement. EJTMD or traditional tools like a protractor and a muscle strength tester. Participants were randomly allocated to EJTMD first or traditional tools first. The efficacy of EJTMD was assessed by comparing muscle strength and AROM with traditional tools. Integrated electromyography (iEMG) and root mean square (RMS) were used to assess the intensity of muscle activity during elbow movements. The peak torque (PT) and the ratio of peak torque to body weight (PT/BW) were examined to explore the differences in mechanical characteristics of bilateral elbow joints. Motor evoked potential (MEP) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) were employed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying motor discrepancies post-stroke. EJTMD demonstrates superior muscle strength, AROM, iEMG, and RMS during elbow movements compared to traditional tools (P < 0.05). Repeated EJTMD measurement outcomes have a good correlation on the same day (r ≥ 0.999, P < 0.001). EJTMD exhibits significant differences in measurement outcomes among stroke patients before and after treatment (P < 0.05), compared to traditional tools. Stroke patients exhibit reduced PT and PT/BW on the lesion side across low, medium, and high-speed tests, with a more pronounced decline observed during low-speed testing (P < 0.001). Stroke patients show decreased iEMG and RMS on the affected side during elbow movements (P < 0.05), with prolonged MEP latency and CMCT (P < 0.001), and reduced MEP amplitude (P < 0.001). Based on the results, EJTMD demonstrates reliability and effectiveness in assessing elbow movements in both healthy subjects and stroke patients, showing sensitivity to minor joint changes. Stroke patients exhibit reduced flexor and extensor function on the lesion side, potentially resulting from impaired corticospinal tract conduction.

Indexed as

Elbow JointStrokeTorqueAdultAgedElectromyographyEvoked Potentials, MotorFemaleHealthy VolunteersHumansMaleMiddle AgedMuscle StrengthRange of Motion, ArticularElbow jointHealthy subjectsMotor evoked potentialStrokeSurface electromyography

Identifiers

PMID40223140
PMCPMC11994793

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.