Student: Ryan Sidari Supervisors: Olivia Lockwood Sherry Randhawa.

Design of a Posture Monitor

Student: Ryan Sidari Supervisors: Olivia Lockwood

Sherry Randhawa

Lower back pain & causes Background Project objectives Progress so far Schedule & deliverables Summary

Introduction

80% of people will have a back problem at one point during their lives [1]

In South Australia, one quarter of compensation claims are a result of back injuries [2]

$40 million dollars to the state in workers compensation payouts [3]

Lower Back Pain

A cumulative injury to the lumbar region Stress on discs, ligaments and muscles over time

[4]

Forward bending leading cause [5]

Cause of Lower Back Pain

Load

Time

A cumulative injury to the lumbar region Stress on discs, ligaments and muscles over time

[4]

Forward bending leading cause [5]

Cause of Lower Back Pain

Load

Time

Tissue failure tolerance

Applied load

A cumulative injury to the lumbar region Stress on discs, ligaments and muscles over time

[4]

Forward bending leading cause [5]

Cause of Lower Back Pain

Load

Time

Tissue failure tolerance

Applied load

Margin of safety

A cumulative injury to the lumbar region Stress on discs, ligaments and muscles over time

[4]

Forward bending leading cause [5]

Cause of Lower Back Pain

Load

Time

Tissue failure tolerance

Applied load

FAILURE & INJURY

Physiotherapist driven “Physio-in-your-pocket” Monitor user’s posture and give

feedback Early versions of device

Background

Bluetooth Low power iPhone app:

◦ Real-time feedback◦ Reminder system◦ Review statistics◦ Calibration◦ Avatar

Ergonomics: ◦ Circuit board design◦ Chest and hip straps

Run trials to validate

Objectives

So Far... Research and decide on components Investigate Bluetooth and develop basic app

So Far... Research and decide on components Investigate Bluetooth and develop basic app

...What next?

Gantt Chart

Schedule

Gantt Chart

Schedule

Research

Gantt Chart

Schedule

Design

Gantt Chart

Schedule

Development

Gantt Chart

Schedule

Testing

Gantt Chart

Schedule

Results

Gantt Chart

Schedule

Final

The main deliverables for the project are the: ◦ Sensors◦ iPhone app◦ Results◦ Thesis

Deliverables

• Success of the project may be evaluated on two levels:1) Functionality of device/app2) Results from laboratory trials

Take home messages: Lower Back Pain not

only painful but costly to both the patient and state.

Reduce cause with “physio-in-your-pocket”

SIT & STAND UP STRAIGHT!

Summary

[1] Hill, D, Lucy, D, Tyers, C & James, L 2007, What works at work? Review of evidence assessing the effectiveness of workplace interventions to prevent and manage common health problems, Corporate Document Services,p35

[2] SafeWork SA 2013, Back Injuries: the leading cause of workplace claims, viewed 29 March 2013, <http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/contentPages/docs/resHealthyWorkplaceBackIntro.pdf>

[3] SafeWork SA 2007, The Cost, viewed 4 April 2013, <http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/contentPages/EducationAndTraining/HazardManagement/LiftingAndCarrying/liftCost.htm>

[4] Mitchell, T, O’Sullivan, PB, Burnett, AF, Straker, L & Smith A 2008, Regional differences in lumbar spinal posture and the influence of low back pain, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol 9

[5] Govindu, NK & Babski-Reves, K 2012, Effects of personal, psychological and occupational factors on low back pain severity in wokers, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, viewed 27 March 2013 <http://dx.doi.org/10/1016/j.ergon.2012.11.007 >

Questions?