Abstract
Monitoring scapular movements is of relevance in the contexts of rehabilitation and clinical research. Among many technologies, wearable systems instrumented by strain sensors are emerging in these applications. An open challenge for the design of these systems is the optimal positioning of the sensing elements, since their response is related to the strain of the underlying substrates. This study aimed to provide a method to analyze the human skin strain of the scapular region. Experiments were conducted on five healthy volunteers to assess the skin strain during upper limb movements in the frontal, sagittal, and scapular planes at different degrees of elevation. A 6 × 5 grid of passive markers was placed posteriorly to cover the entire anatomic region of interest. Results showed that the maximum strain values, in percentage, were 28.26%, and 52.95%, 60.12% and 60.87%, 40.89%, and 48.20%, for elevation up to 90° and maximum elevation in the frontal, sagittal, and scapular planes, respectively. In all cases, the maximum extension is referred to the pair of markers placed horizontally near the axillary fold. Accordingly, this study suggests interesting insights for designing and positioning textile-based strain sensors in wearable systems for scapular movements monitoring.
Highlights
Patients suffering from shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) may experience pain and reduced functional capacity [1,2]
The specific aims of this study were: (i) to develop a method for analyzing human-skin strain of the scapular region using an optical motion capture system recording 3D displacements of a grid of retro-reflective markers, and (ii) to estimate how skin deformation varies in the scapular region when performing upper limb movements at different degrees of elevation in the frontal, sagittal, and scapular planes
435 skin relative strain the scapular region from 5 participants were analyzed arm elevation invariations the frontal,insagittal, and scapular planes at 90◦ and were analyzed during arm elevation in the sagittal, scapular
Summary
Patients suffering from shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) may experience pain and reduced functional capacity [1,2]. A correct and coordinated scapular movement represents the key component in regular shoulder functionality. Alterations in scapular position and orientation, a condition known as scapular dyskinesis, characterize most shoulder. MSDs, such as subacromial impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, or multidirectional instability [1,4]. The scapulothoracic joint is a functional sliding joint between the medial border of the scapula and the posterior thoracic ribcage, allowing the relative motion of the scapula on the thoracic surface below. The joint variables in sliding joints are the extensions between two sequential body segments [5,6]
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