Engineers in the US have designed a smart, mechanised undergarment that may help prevent lower back pain by reducing muscle fatigue.While solutions for back pain are aplenty, most of them have at least one of three problems — they are unproven, unworkable or just plain unattractive. This wear cum device has the solution to all your back problems!
Also read:Tips to Enjoy Memorable and Adventurous sports
Special design and mechanism
- The device, consists of two fabric sections, made of nylon canvas,
- Lycra, polyester and other materials, for the chest and legs.
- The sections are connected by sturdy straps across the middle back,
- with natural rubber pieces at the lower back and glutes.
- The device is designed so that users engage it only when they need it. A simple double tap to the shirt engages the straps.
- When the task is done, another double tap releases the straps so the user can sit down, and the device feels and behaves like normal clothes.
- The device also can be controlled by an app that the team created –
- users tap their phones to engage the smart clothing wirelessly via Bluetooth.
- In experiments, the participants tested the device leaning forward and lifting 11-kg and 25-kg
- weights while holding their position at 30, 60 and 90 degrees.
- Using motion capture, force plates and electromyography, the team demonstrated that
- the device reduced activity in the lower back ex tensor muscles by an average of 15 to 45 per cent for each task.
- The focus of this new technology is not for treating those with existing back pain but
- focuses on prevention by reducing stress and fatigue on the low back muscles, Yang said.