Title
Skin Strain Analysis Of The Scapular Region And Wearables Design
Abstract
Monitoring scapular movements is of relevance in the contexts of rehabilitation and clinical research. Among many technologies, wearable systems instrumented by strain sensors are emerging in these applications. An open challenge for the design of these systems is the optimal positioning of the sensing elements, since their response is related to the strain of the underlying substrates. This study aimed to provide a method to analyze the human skin strain of the scapular region. Experiments were conducted on five healthy volunteers to assess the skin strain during upper limb movements in the frontal, sagittal, and scapular planes at different degrees of elevation. A 6 x 5 grid of passive markers was placed posteriorly to cover the entire anatomic region of interest. Results showed that the maximum strain values, in percentage, were 28.26%, and 52.95%, 60.12% and 60.87%, 40.89%, and 48.20%, for elevation up to 90 degrees and maximum elevation in the frontal, sagittal, and scapular planes, respectively. In all cases, the maximum extension is referred to the pair of markers placed horizontally near the axillary fold. Accordingly, this study suggests interesting insights for designing and positioning textile-based strain sensors in wearable systems for scapular movements monitoring.
Year
DOI
Venue
2021
10.3390/s21175761
SENSORS
Keywords
DocType
Volume
wearable systems, textile sensors, strain sensors, scapula movements monitoring, skin strain analysis, rehabilitation, biomechanics
Journal
21
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
17
1424-8220
0
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.34
0
6
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Arianna Carnevale100.34
Emiliano Schena210643.86
Domenico Formica38826.60
C Massaroni45426.42
Umile Giuseppe Longo532.83
Vincenzo Denaro622.46