i-manager Publications

Therapeutic Based Wearable Postural Control System for Low Back Pain

Rashika Murugan*, S. Atheenamilagi Pandian**, S. Mohammed Sahil***, N. Sri Manoj Kumar****

*-**** Atheenapandian Private Limited, Tamil Nadu, India.

Periodicity:January - June'2024
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jic.12.1.20520

Abstract

The treatment of low back pain usually includes exercise, analgesics, prostheses, and, in severe cases, surgery. Early treatments based on postural control are essential to prevent low back pain and mitigate permanent damage. This paper presents a wearable device with an estimated cost below $100 that uses inertial units with triaxial accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to measure the orientation of three sections of the spine. The device integrates the absolute and relative orientations from the sensors to estimate the posture of the back in real-time and uses a fuzzy system to control a vibration unit that indicates to the user when to correct the posture of the back. This paper validated the device in controlled conditions, obtaining an rms deviation ≤1.24, and conducted a preliminary clinical pilot study with patients afflicted by lumbar hyperlordosis. This paper observed improved postural control and a reduction of low back pain in all cases. These results show the device's promising potential to reduce pain, improve postural therapies, and raise postural awareness in patients with low back pain.

Keywords

Wearable Postural Control System, Low Back Pain, Back Orientation, Fuzzy System, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Posture Therapy.

How to Cite this Article?

Murugan, R., Pandian, S. A., Sahil, S. M., and Kumar, N. S. M. (2024). Therapeutic Based Wearable Postural Control System for Low Back Pain. i-manager’s Journal on Instrumentation & Control Engineering, 12(1), 30-38. https://doi.org/10.26634/jic.12.1.20520

References

[1]. Afzal, M. R., Oh, M. K., Lee, C. H., Park, Y. S., & Yoon, J. (2015). A portable gait asymmetry rehabilitation system for individuals with stroke using a vibrotactile feedback. BioMed Research International, 2015, 1-16.

[2]. Andò, B., Marletta, V., Baglio, S., Crispino, R., Mostile, G., Dibilio, V., ... & Zappia, M. (2020). A measurement system to monitor postural behavior: Strategy assessment and classification rating. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 69(10), 8020-8031.

[3]. Bazzarelli, M., Durdle, N. G., Lou, E., & Raso, V. J. (2003). A wearable computer for physiotherapeutic scoliosis treatment. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 52(1), 126-129.

[4]. Bertolotti, G. M., Cristiani, A. M., Colagiorgio, P., Romano, F., Bassani, E., Caramia, N., & Ramat, S. (2015). A wearable and modular inertial unit for measuring limb movements and balance control abilities. IEEE Sensors Journal, 16(3), 790-797.

[5]. Claeys, K., Brumagne, S., Dankaerts, W., Kiers, H., & Janssens, L. (2011). Decreased variability in postural control strategies in young people with non-specific low back pain is associated with altered proprioceptive reweighting. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111, 115-123.

[6]. Costa, C., Tacconi, D., Tomasi, R., Calva, F., & Terreri, V. (2013, September). RIABLO: A game system for supporting orthopedic rehabilitation. In Proceedings of the Biannual Conference of the Italian Chapter of SIGCHI (pp. 1-7).

[7]. Dehzangi, O., Zhao, Z., Bidmeshki, M. M., Biggan, J., Ray, C., & Jafari, R. (2013, November). The impact of vibrotactile biofeedback on the excessive walking sway and the postural control in elderly. In Proceedings of the 4th Conference on Wireless Health (pp. 1-7).

[8]. Deyo, R. A., Rainville, J., & Kent, D. L. (1992). What can the history and physical examination tell us about low back pain?. Jama, 268(6), 760-765.

[9]. DorsaVi. (n.d.). ViMove Wearable Sensors for Health & Workplace Safety.

[10]. Eid, M., Saad, U., & Afzal, U. (2013, October). A real time vibrotactile biofeedback system for optimizing athlete training. In 2013 IEEE International Symposium on Haptic Audio Visual Environments and Games (HAVE) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.

[11]. Fathi, A., & Curran, K. (2017). Detection of spine curvature using wireless sensors. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 29(4), 553-560.

[12]. Feel Peak. (n.d.). Welcome To Feel Peak – Nutrition, Supplements & Fitness.

[13]. Freburger, J. K., Holmes, G. M., Agans, R. P., Jackman, A. M., Darter, J. D., Wallace, A. S., ... & Carey, T. S. (2009). The rising prevalence of chronic low back pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169(3), 251-258.

[14]. Groves, P. D. (2015). Principles of GNSS, inertial, and multisensor integrated navigation systems, [Book review]. IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, 30(2), 26-27.

[15]. Harvard Medical School. (2014). Posture and Back Health. Harvard Medical Publishing.

[16]. Koes, B. W., Van Tulder, M., & Thomas, S. (2006). Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. BMJ, 332(7555), 1430-1434.

[17]. Lee, B. C., Chen, S., & Sienko, K. H. (2011). A wearable device for real-time motion error detection and vibrotactile instructional cuing. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 19(4), 374-381.

[18]. Leinonen, V., Kankaanpää, M., Luukkonen, M., Kansanen, M., Hänninen, O., Airaksinen, O., & Taimela, S. (2003). Lumbar paraspinal muscle function, perception of lumbar position, and postural control in disc herniation- related back pain. Spine, 28(8), 842-848.

[19]. Mjøsund, H. L., Boyle, E., Kjaer, P., Mieritz, R. M., Skallgård, T., & Kent, P. (2017). Clinically acceptable agreement between the ViMove wireless motion sensor system and the Vicon motion capture system when measuring lumbar region inclination motion in the sagittal and coronal planes. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 18, 1-9.

[20]. Rabuñal, J. R., Rodriguez, A., Figuero, A., Sande, J., & Peña, E. (2018). Field measurements of angular motions of a vessel at berth: Inertial device application. Journal of Control Engineering and Applied Informatics, 20(3), 79-88.

[21]. Rubinstein, S. M., De Zoete, A., Van Middelkoop, M., Assendelft, W. J., De Boer, M. R., & Van Tulder, M. W. (2019). Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ, 364, 1-15.

[22]. Saponara, S. (2017). Wearable biometric performance measurement system for combat sports. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 66(10), 2545-2555.

[23]. Steffens, D., Maher, C. G., Pereira, L. S., Stevens, M. L., Oliveira, V. C., Chapple, M., ... & Hancock, M. J. (2016). Prevention of low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(2), 199-208.

[24]. Tino, A., Carvalho, M., Preto, N. F., & McConville, K. M. V. (2011, August). Wireless vibrotactile feedback system for postural response improvement. In 2011 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (pp. 5203-5206). IEEE.

[25]. Voinea, G. D., Butnariu, S., & Mogan, G. (2016). Measurement and geometric modelling of human spine posture for medical rehabilitation purposes using a wearable monitoring system based on inertial sensors. Sensors, 17(1), 3.

[26]. Walsh, K., Varnes, N., Osmond, C., Styles, R., & Coggon, D. (1989). Occupational causes of low-back pain. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 15(1), 54-59.

[27]. White Stone Healthcare Resources. (2020). Authorized Federal Supply Schedule Price List.

[28]. Wong, W. Y., & Wong, M. S. (2008). Smart garment for trunk posture monitoring: A preliminary study. Scoliosis, 3, 1-9.

[29]. Wong, W. Y., & Wong, M. S. (2009). Measurement of postural change in trunk movements using three sensor modules. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 58(8), 2737-2742.

[30]. Woodman, O. J. (2007). An Introduction to Inertial Navigation (No. UCAM- CL-TR-696). University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory.

If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Single Article

	North Americas,UK, Middle East,Europe		India	Rest of world
	USD	EUR	INR	USD-ROW
Online	15	15

ADD TO CART

Options for accessing this content:

If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.