Musculoskeletal stress markers: a comparison between a 3D digitizing geometric morphometric approach and a more traditional scoring method using clavicles from a 19th century asylum collection from Pueblo, Colorado
Date
2013
Authors
Griffith, Kimberly, author
Magennis, Ann, advisor
Glantz, Michelle, committee member
Frasier, Mark, committee member
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Abstract
With the availability of more sophisticated equipment for measuring and analyzing data, it is tempting to disregard older, simpler methods. However, these newer methods require expensive equipment, complex procedures and statistical know-how that more traditional methods do not. In this study, I attempt to determine whether new methods of analyzing musculoskeletal stress markers are a better reflection of that muscular stress than more traditional methods. The traditional method of analyzing musculoskeletal stress markers is to score them based on the rugosity of the attachment site. In this study a 1-6 scale was used for the attachment site of the costoclavicular ligament on the clavicle. The results of this study were then compared to results obtained from using a 3D digitizing MicroScribe, used to map the surface of the costoclavicular ligament, along with the attachment sites of the pectoralis major muscle and deltoideus muscle on the clavicle. The data from the 3D digitizer was analyzed using several different software programs designed for landmark-based geometric morphometrics. The study sought to answer whether the same differences are observed in regards to age and sex when various analyses are used. The traditional method provided an average score that shows males to be more rugose than females at the attachment site of the costoclavicular ligament, whereas the analysis of shape difference done with the 3D digitizing shows that males were only statistically significantly different than females on the right attachment site, but not on the left. Age results included four categories(20-29,30-39,40-49,50+) and the results of the scoring suggest that there is a gradual change with age, but that rugosity is not controlled by age. The results from the 3D digitization support this, with statistically significant differences in shape observed between the youngest and oldest age groups.