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The traditional approach to the representation of an articular surface is by using piecewise polynomial functions with a limited continuity to fit the surface from ordered data points. In this study, we introduce a new method, which is based on the influence surface theory of plates, for the representation of articular surfaces. The most significant advantage of this method is that it can effectively represent an articular surface from non-ordered data points. The effectiveness of the present method was shown by reconstruction of a human femoral surface and a mathematical cone.

Determining the geometry of articular joint surfaces is critical to the study of human joint mechanics. Photographs of sliced specimens (PSS) is currently one of the most popular methods used to determine surface geometry. This study sought to improve the photographs of sliced specimens method through a new calibration technique that includes a mathematical model and a precise plastic grating (calibration grid). Simulations showed that calibration results for x and y coordinates using the new technique attained a high degree of accuracy that was independent of camera and projector lens quality, degree of parallelity between the projector and digitizing table and selection of the area to be calibrated.

The purposes of this study were to establish the efficacy of a custom-designed electrogoniometer (biaxial) in monitoring wrist motion and to analyze the function of the wrist in basketball shooting. Six NCAA basketball players participated and a total of 578 shots (free-throws) were recorded and analyzed with the custom-designed electrogoniometer attached to both wrists of each player.