Interactive wearable systems for upper body rehabilitation: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Wearable Sensors

Background:

• Interactive rehabilitation technologies utilizing wearable sensors for upper body movement and posture monitoring are gaining research traction.
• This review categorizes these systems based on sensing technology, measurements, and feedback, while assessing wearability and clinical evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To inventory and classify interactive wearable systems for upper body rehabilitation.
• To evaluate the wearability of these systems.
• To assess the availability of clinical evidence for their effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, ACM, Scopus, and IEEE from January 2010 to April 2016.
• Forty-five papers were analyzed and categorized using a cuboid taxonomy (sensing technology, feedback modalities, system measurements).

Main Results:

• Accelerometers and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are the most common sensors (84%), often used in multiple configurations for kinematics and posture monitoring.
• Wearable sensor systems are applied in neuro-rehabilitation (stroke, spinal cord injury), musculoskeletal impairments, and other conditions.
• While most sensors are attachable, embedded systems are emerging; feedback modalities include knowledge of results (KR) and knowledge of performance (KP).

Conclusions:

• Wearable systems are predominantly used for monitoring and feedback in upper body and stroke rehabilitation.
• Accelerometers and IMUs are frequently employed, often with attachable sensors, to enhance movement performance.
• Clinical evaluations and evidence of effectiveness are limited, highlighting the need for further research before widespread clinical implementation.