Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2025
Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
Evaluating a wearable biofeedback device for reducing end-range sagittal lumbar spine flexion among home caregivers
Megan Kamachi1, Mohammadhasan Owlia2, Tilak Dutta1
1KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Rosebrugh Building, 164 College Street, Room 407, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada.
Abstract:
Caregivers who work in the home environment are at risk of back injury due to the awkward postures they have to adopt while providing care. Real-time biofeedback provided by a recently developed wearable device (PostureCoach) may be able to reduce this risk. The effectiveness of a two-day training intervention (including PostureCoach and an educational video) was evaluated for its ability to decrease the amount of time spent in end-range spine flexion. Twenty novice caregivers repeated a series of simulated care tasks. Real-time auditory biofeedback was provided to the intervention group (n = 10) when participants' sagittal lumbar spine flexion exceeded a preset threshold during training trials. Participants in the control group (n = 10) received no feedback. Participants repeated the tasks again two weeks and two months post-intervention. The intervention group maintained decreased end-range (80th and 95th percentile) spine flexion compared to controls at both post-intervention time points.
