TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Doctor, when can I drive?-the range of elbow motion while driving a car
JO  - Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery
A1  - Latz, David
A1  - Schiffner, Erik
A1  - Schneppendahl, Johannes
A1  - Hilsmann, Falk
A1  - Seiler, Lars Fabian
A1  - Jungbluth, Pascal
A1  - Kaufmann, Robert Alexander
A1  - Windolf, Joachim
A1  - Gehrmann, Sebastian Viktor
SP  - 1139
EP  - 1145
VL  - 28
IS  - 6
N2  - 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. <br><br>MATERIALS AND 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. <br><br>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). <br><br>CONCLUSION: 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.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1058-2746
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2018.11.053
ID  - ref1
ER  -