Ambulatory Low Back Load Exposure Estimation

Abstract

An ambulatory monitor for physical low back load exposure should be non-interfering, unrestricted in application space or duration, practical in use and interpretation, sufficiently accurate and reliable, sensitive to load handling and load coping and offer both detailed load parameters statistics and global information on tasks and behavior. A method is introduced that tries to meet these demands applying 3 technological innovations: miniature inertial movement sensing, artificial neural network based automatic calibration of the dynamic surface EMG–moment relationship and miniature RF links for wireless video-synchronization (AMBER). The currently implemented ambulatory method assesses load exposure through absolute 3D trunk kinematics data, muscle activation patterns, net moment data at spinal level L5/S1, compressive forces in symmetric loading situations and synchronized video. Principles, validation and recent field applications of the method are presented.