Wearable sensors for measuring shoulder activity (lab data)

Traditionally, the evaluation of pathology/disease/dysfunction related to the shoulder has taken place periodically in a clinical setting by a physiotherapist, providing at best a snapshot taken under well-controlled conditions. Self-reported questionnaires have been used to measure everyday functioning/performance of the shoulder outside of the clinical setting. However, there are inherent limitations associated with a questionnaire including issues around memory recall, social desirability and perceptual (cognitive) difficulties when completing the questionnaires. One tool that is widely available to most, in today’s world, is wearable technology which is becoming increasingly useful due to reduced cost (compared to scientific equipment), availability and ease of use. Such tools can be used to continuously evaluate and measure function away from the laboratory. To date, however, the use of wearable technology has been more limited in musculoskeletal research compared to neurological medicine, especially in relation to upper limb function. The aims of this project is to determine the criterion validity of two portable, wearable sensors during a range of functional tasks