Motor Control Training for the Shoulder with Smart Garments.

Qi Wang,Thomas Matheve,Panos Markopoulos,Wei Chen,Liesbet De Baets,Luca Giacolini,Annick Timmermans

doi:10.3390/s17071687

Qi Wang, Thomas Matheve + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071687

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Abstract

Wearable technologies for posture monitoring and posture correction are emerging as a way to support and enhance physical therapy treatment, e.g., for motor control training in neurological disorders or for treating musculoskeletal disorders, such as shoulder, neck, or lower back pain. Among the various technological options for posture monitoring, wearable systems offer potential advantages regarding mobility, use in different contexts and sustained tracking in daily life. We describe the design of a smart garment named Zishi to monitor compensatory movements and evaluate its applicability for shoulder motor control training in a clinical setting. Five physiotherapists and eight patients with musculoskeletal shoulder pain participated in the study. The attitudes of patients and therapists towards the system were measured using standardized survey instruments. The results indicate that patients and their therapists consider Zishi a credible aid for rehabilitation and patients expect it will help towards their recovery. The system was perceived as highly usable and patients were motivated to train with the system. Future research efforts on the improvement of the customization of feedback location and modality, and on the evaluation of Zishi as support for motor learning in shoulder patients, should be made.

Highlights

IntroductionShoulder dysfunctions are the third most common complaint [1,2,3] and in neurological rehabilitation after stroke, shoulder pain affects one-third of stroke patients [4]
In reaction to pain or in order to unload painful structures, patients tend to develop altered movement patterns which can be seen as compensatory movements [9]
The aim of this study is to evaluate attitudes regarding the usability, credibility, acceptance, and motivational aspects of technology-supported postural feedback during scapular training in patients with musculoskeletal shoulder pain and in physical therapists who treat patients with shoulder disorders

Summary

Introduction

Shoulder dysfunctions are the third most common complaint [1,2,3] and in neurological rehabilitation after stroke, shoulder pain affects one-third of stroke patients [4]. Alterations in trunk and scapulothoracic posture and movements, and in scapulothoracic muscle timing are related to the development of shoulder pain and dysfunctions, both in musculoskeletal and neurological (i.e., stroke) patients [5,6,7,8]. Performance of reaching tasks, patients shoulder at thepain level at of the the glenohumeral joint, might in the performance of reaching tasks,with patients with pain shoulder level of the glenohumeral develop aberrant movement at the level ofatthe joint, in orderjoint, to compensate joint, might develop aberrantpatterns movement patterns thescapulothoracic level of the scapulothoracic in order to for limited glenohumeral motion

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