Mapping Technologies for Biomechanical Evaluation in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine: A Scoping Review

Objective:
The objective of this scoping review is to map and categorise technologies used in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine for biomechanical evaluation, examining how they are applied across key biomechanical domains.

Introduction:
Biomechanical evaluation is central to Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) as it enables the assessment of movement quality, functional capacity and treatment effectiveness. Traditional methods relying on patient-reported outcomes and clinical observation are limited by subjectivity and variability. Advances in biomedical engineering have introduced technologies such as wearable sensors, motion capture systems, force platforms and surface electromyography that offer objective, data-driven assessment of biomechanical function. Despite increasing use, there is currently no comprehensive synthesis that organises these technologies or clarifies how they are utilised across distinct biomechanical domains within PRM.

Inclusion criteria:
This review will include studies involving individuals of any age or condition undergoing biomechanical evaluation within PRM contexts. The concept encompasses technologies used to assess biomechanics such as gait, joint movement, muscle activation and postural control, including motion analysis systems, inertial measurement units (IMUs), force plates, pressure sensors and electromyography. Research, rehabilitation and biomedical environments within PRM, including neurological, musculoskeletal, geriatric, post-surgical and sports-related settings, will be considered. All empirical study designs, full-text conference proceedings and grey literature published in English within the last five years will be eligible.

Methods:
This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. A three-step search strategy will be conducted across PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore and CINAHL. Screening of titles, abstracts and full texts will be conducted according to predefined eligibility criteria. Data will be charted using a customised extraction framework to document study characteristics, technology specifications, biomechanical domains assessed and PRM contexts. Findings will be presented through descriptive mapping, tabulation and narrative synthesis, identifying trends, areas of concentrated research and gaps in biomechanical evaluation.