Detection of spine curvature using wireless sensors

• Main Authors: Azin Fathi, Kevin Curran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-10-01
• Series: Journal of King Saud University: Science
• Subjects: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS); Shimmer sensors; Accelerometer; Gyroscope; Wearable devices
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364717303932

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive disease of the spine where the spine slowly stiffens and can eventually become completely inflexible. It can be difficult to diagnose in primary care, and thus there is often a 10-year delay in diagnosis. Within this study an intelligent wearable system is designed and developed to detect the displacement of the spine and provide the subject with a continuous posture monitoring and feedback signals when an incorrect posture is detected using accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. This wearable system can be used both to diagnose AS in early stages and to prevent subjects from lower back and neck pain caused by incorrect posture. We outline here the system which detects the curvature of the spine by using Shimmer sensors placed on the back and provides relevant exercises based on the user’s pain records.