Application of Nanogenerators in Lumbar Motion Monitoring: Fundamentals, Current Status, and Perspectives

Nanogenerators (NGs), especially triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), represent an emerging technology with great potential for self-powered lumbar motion monitoring. Conventional wearable systems for assessing spinal kinematics are often limited by their reliance on external power supplies, hindering long-term and real-time clinical applications. NGs can convert biomechanical energy from lumbar motion into electrical energy, providing both sensing and power-generation capabilities in a single platform. This review summarizes the fundamental working mechanisms, device architectures, and current progress of NG-based motion monitoring technologies, with a particular focus on their applications in lumbar spine research and clinical rehabilitation. By enabling high-sensitivity, continuous, and battery-free monitoring, NG-based systems may enhance the diagnosis and management of low back pain (LBP) and postoperative recovery assessment. Furthermore, the integration of NGs with wearable electronics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise for developing intelligent, self-sustaining monitoring platforms that bridge biomedical engineering and spine medicine.