Integrating sEMG and IMU Sensors in an e-Textile Smart Vest for Forward Posture Monitoring: First Steps

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• The increasing prevalence of forward head posture (FHP) necessitates advanced monitoring solutions.
• Wearable devices offer a promising avenue for continuous health assessment, including posture analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a wearable system for real-time FHP assessment.
• To explore the use of e-textiles for improved wearable device integration and performance.

Main Methods:

• Integration of cervical electromyographic (EMG) signals and inertial measurement unit (IMU) data.
• Development of e-textile surface electrodes and conductive tracks for enhanced wearability.
• Benchmarking of sEMG hardware and textile electrodes against gold standards.
• Validation of the posture monitoring module using a robotic arm.

Main Results:

• Imbut's Elitex fiber demonstrated superior tensile strength and abrasion resistance compared to Shieldex fibers.
• The developed textile electrodes achieved a lower root mean square error (RMSE) (10.02%) than commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes (11.11%) in sEMG acquisition.
• The posture monitoring module achieved an overall error of 4.77° in joint angle estimation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed wearable device effectively assesses forward head posture using integrated EMG and IMU data.
• E-textiles provide a viable solution for creating comfortable and effective wearable posture monitoring systems.
• The system shows potential for clinical applications in diagnosing and managing FHP.