A Novel App for Assessing the Caregivers' Physical Activity: A Pilot/Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Caregivers often experience high physical burden and pain, impacting their well-being.
• Objective measurement of caregiver physical activity (PA) and muscle strain is challenging.
• Existing methods may not capture the nuances of daily caregiving demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and clinical utility of a mobile application integrated with a wearable device for monitoring caregiver muscle activity and PA.
• To identify specific caregiving tasks associated with high muscle activity and prevalent pain areas.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-three caregivers utilized a mobile app and wearable device for 42 days to record care activities and PA.
• Muscle activity was quantified using maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) over three weeks.
• Subjective pain levels and locations were systematically recorded.

Main Results:

• Approximately 80% of caregivers found the app and wearable device convenient for data collection.
• The highest muscle activity (%MVIC) was observed in back muscles during feeding assistance.
• Back pain was the most frequently reported issue, with the highest pain intensity in the left knee.

Conclusions:

• Mobile apps combined with wearable devices offer a feasible method for objective data collection on caregiver PA and muscle strain.
• This technology can generate valuable clinical insights for targeted pain management strategies in caregivers.
• Objective data can inform interventions to reduce physical burden and improve caregiver health outcomes.