Wearable Core Contraction Detection for Spinal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current health and fitness wearables lack a convenient and effective way to teach and encourage the use of core muscles during everyday movements, which is essential for supporting the lumbosacral junction and lumbar spine, leading to difficulties in developing procedural memory for core support.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device equipped with sensors like accelerometers and gyros, using inertial navigation and algorithms to identify Qualifying Movements (QMs) and provide feedback on core muscle contraction, helping users develop the habit of protecting their lumbar spine by contracting core muscles during stress periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If health and fitness wearables track basic movements using accelerometers and altimeters, then step counting and activity monitoring are achieved, but the ability to teach and encourage core muscle use during everyday movements is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device performs multiple functions: it tracks basic movements (steps, stairs) using accelerometers and altimeters, and simultaneously detects core muscle contraction through additional sensors. The system identifies Qualifying Movements and determines whether they are protected or unprotected based on core muscle status, providing comprehensive health monitoring without requiring separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines basic movement tracking functionality with core muscle detection capability into a single integrated system. The processor analyzes data from both the motion sensors (accelerometers, altimeters) and core contraction sensors together to determine movement protection status, merging these functions into one cohesive wearable device.
2Reliability
If the system provides detailed feedback on core muscle contraction during movements, then procedural memory for core support is developed, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the user about their core muscle usage during Qualifying Movements. By detecting whether core muscles are contracted during stress periods and providing this information back to the user, the system helps them develop procedural memory for proper core support without requiring complex external monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device enables users to self-monitor and self-correct their core muscle usage patterns. Through automated detection and feedback mechanisms, users can independently develop proper movement habits without requiring constant guidance from trainers or therapists, reducing the need for complex external intervention systems.
3Measurement precision
If the wearable device uses inertial navigation with multiple sensors to identify Qualifying Movements, then movement identification accuracy is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the movement analysis into distinct Qualifying Movements that require core muscle support. Rather than continuously analyzing all movements with full sensor suites, the processor identifies specific movement types (such as standing from sitting, lifting) and applies detailed analysis only to these qualifying cases, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining accuracy for critical movements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively teaches and encourages core muscle use during QMs, promoting procedural memory development for core support, thereby reducing the risk of spinal instability and associated pain.
Implementation Method 1
utilize accelerometers, altimeters, light sources and sensors, and voltage sensors to sense and detect the parameters they measure and track
Implementation Method 2
Inertial navigation is a method utilizing accelerometers, gyroscopes or gyros, and a microprocessor contained on a moving object to continuously calculate device positions
Implementation Method 3
utilize accelerometers, altimeters, light sources and sensors, and voltage sensors to sense and detect the parameters they measure and track
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device has user movement sensors and core contraction sensors. Signals from the sensors are transmitted to a processor which analyzes the movement signals and determines when a qualifying movement is performed which benefits from core contraction. Signals from the core contraction sensors are also transmitted to the processor and are used to determine if the core is contracted during the qualifying movement. If the core is contracted during the qualifying movement, the movement is a protected qualifying movement. However, if the core is not contracted during the qualifying movement the movement is an unprotected qualifying movement. The system can inform the user when unprotected qualifying movements are performed.