An Ambulatory Lordosimeter for Posture Control

描述(由申请者提供)：近70%的美国人在一生中的某个时候会经历背部疼痛。据估计，与背部相关的问题每年给美国经济造成的损失在350亿至500亿美元之间。久坐的工作与背部受伤的风险增加有关，而且有研究表明，长时间坐着且腰椎曲度变平会增加对腰间盘的压力。如果腰椎保持足够的弯曲，背部的压力可以减轻。我们已经开发出一种设备，可以佩戴在下半身周围，将弯曲传感器固定在腰椎上，监测腰椎曲率，并在佩戴者姿势不佳时向佩戴者提供振动反馈，以便佩戴者可以调整自己的姿势，减少背部的压力。在阶段1中，我们确认了来自设备的反馈可以可靠地影响坐姿。在第二阶段，我们将对背部疼痛的患者进行长期测试。使用我们的设备，患者将学会在坐着时保持改善的腰曲，我们将调查这种改善的姿势是否减少了下腰痛的严重程度和/或持续时间。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nearly 70% of the United States population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. The annual cost to the United States economy of back-related problems has been estimated at between $35 Billion and $50 Billion. Sedentary jobs have been linked to an increased risk of back injury, and it has been shown that sitting for prolonged periods with a flattened lumbar curvature increases the stress on intervertabral discs. Stress on the back can be reduced if the lumbar spine remains sufficiently curved. We have developed a device that is worn around the lower torso, holds a bend sensor to the lumbar spine, monitors lumbar curvature, and provides vibrational feedback to the wearer when the wearer is in a poor posture so that the wearer can modify his or her posture and reduce the stress on his or her back. In Phase 1 we confirmed that feedback from the device can be used to reliably influence seated posture. In Phase 2 we will carry out long term tests on patients who experience back pain. Using our device, patients will learn to maintain improved lumbar curvature while sitting, and we will investigate whether this improved posture reduces the severity and/or duration of lower back pain.