Emerging Technologies of Sensor-Based Assistive Devices for Spinal Position Monitoring: A Review

Spinal deformities encompass a variety of postural disorders resulting from abnormalities in the thoracolumbar spine. Conventional diagnostic methods for spinal deformities are expensive and carry health risks, driving the search for alternative, non-invasive techniques for monitoring and visualizing spine posture. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, which combine accelerometers and gyroscopes, can detect both rotational and acceleration movements of the body, thereby determining its position and orientation across three spatial axes. This review paper aims to summarize the latest technological developments in the area of spinal position monitoring and mapping through the use of various sensors. Eighteen papers were analyzed in this review identifying the specific area of application and sensor type utilized. Most papers used IMUs as the main positional monitoring system however some supplemented the sensor system with motion capture technology. A lack of information regarding signal processing has been observed in the majority of the papers in this review indicating no standardization on how positional mapping is applied. Most papers also require the presence of medical experts to operate the technology presenting the need to develop more accessible technologies for patients in this field.