IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2023 May;70(5):1553-1564. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3222124. Epub 2023 Apr 20.
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading neuromusculoskeletal (NMSK) problems around the globe. Soft Tissue Manipulation (STM) is a force-based, non-invasive intervention used to clinically address NMSK pain conditions. Current STM practice standards are mostly subjective, suggesting an urgent need for quantitative metrics. This research aims at developing a handheld, portable smart medical device for tracking real-time dispersive force-motions to characterize manual therapy treatments as Quantifiable Soft Tissue Manipulation (QSTM).
The device includes two 3D load-cells to quantify compressive and planar-shear forces, coupled with a 6 degrees-of-freedom IMU sensor for acquiring volitionally adapted therapeutic motions while scanning and mobilizing myofascial restrictions over larger areas of the body. These force-motions characterize QSTM with treatment parameters (targeted force, application angle, rate, direction, motion pattern, time) as a part of post-processing on a PC software (Q-Ware). A human case study was conducted to treat LBP as proof-of-concept for the device's clinical usability.
External validation of treatment parameters reported adequate device precision required for clinical use. The case study findings revealed identifiable therapeutic force-motion patterns within treatments indicating subject's elevated force-endurance with self-reported pain reduction.
QSTM metrics may enable study of STM dosing for optimized pain reduction and functional outcomes using documentable manual therapy. Clinical trials will further determine its reliability and comparison to conventional STM.
This medical device technology not only advances the state-of-the-art manual therapy with precision rehabilitation but also augments practice with reproducibility to examine neurobiological responses of individualized STM prescriptions for NMSK pathology.
下背痛(LBP)是全球范围内主要的神经肌肉骨骼(NMSK)问题之一。软组织操作(STM)是一种基于力的非侵入性干预措施,用于临床解决 NMSK 疼痛状况。当前的 STM 实践标准主要是主观的,这表明迫切需要定量指标。本研究旨在开发一种手持式、便携式智能医疗设备,用于跟踪实时分散力-运动,以将手动治疗描述为可量化的软组织操作(QSTM)。
该设备包括两个 3D 负载单元,用于量化压缩和平面剪切力,以及一个 6 自由度 IMU 传感器,用于在扫描和动员身体较大区域的肌筋膜限制时获取自愿适应的治疗运动。这些力-运动通过治疗参数(目标力、应用角度、速度、方向、运动模式、时间)来描述 QSTM,作为 PC 软件(Q-Ware)上的后处理的一部分。进行了一项人体案例研究,以治疗 LBP,作为该设备临床可用性的概念验证。
治疗参数的外部验证报告了临床使用所需的足够设备精度。案例研究结果显示,治疗过程中存在可识别的治疗力-运动模式,表明患者的力耐力提高,并自述疼痛减轻。
QSTM 指标可能使研究 STM 剂量优化疼痛缓解和功能结果成为可能,使用可记录的手动治疗。临床试验将进一步确定其可靠性,并与传统 STM 进行比较。
这项医疗设备技术不仅通过精确康复推进了先进的手动治疗,而且还通过可重复性增强了实践,以检查个体化 STM 处方对 NMSK 病理的神经生物学反应。