Faculty of Engineering, University of Talca, Curico, Chile.
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile.
Med Biol Eng Comput. 2023 Mar;61(3):635-649. doi: 10.1007/s11517-022-02733-7. Epub 2022 Dec 27.
Globally, accelerated aging is taking place alongside increased life expectancy of the population. This poses a challenge to maintaining autonomy and independence as people age but preventing falls and disabilities. Currently, there are few specific technologies on the market that are focused on the rehabilitation and promotion of autonomy in older adults. This study presents the development of a prototype (Myoviber®) of a low-cost, wearable everyday garment, designed to stimulate the lower limbs by the application of focal muscle vibration and incorporating technical textile qualities. The presented approach is proactive and preventive, maintaining functionality for the elderly while integrating electronic technology into an everyday garment. For this, a comprehensive study was carried out that included the design of the leggings through anthropometric analyses, the development of vibration devices at a stable frequency located in the knee extensor muscle and a smart belt with wireless connection, and the optimization of the battery autonomy. The development of the prototype was carried out through the construction of a vibratory device, which was validated with biomechanical evaluations. The results show an increase in the functional capacity of the lower limbs, in relation to motor tasks such as postural balance and gait in older people.
在全球范围内，人口预期寿命的延长伴随着加速衰老的发生。这对老年人保持自主和独立提出了挑战，需要预防跌倒和残疾。目前，市场上很少有专门针对老年人康复和促进自主性的特定技术。本研究提出了一种低成本、可穿戴日常服装的原型（Myoviber®）的开发，该原型旨在通过应用焦点肌肉振动刺激下肢，并结合技术纺织品的特性。所提出的方法是主动和预防性的，在将电子技术集成到日常服装的同时保持老年人的功能。为此，进行了一项全面的研究，包括通过人体测量分析设计紧身裤、开发位于膝关节伸肌的稳定频率的振动装置以及带有无线连接的智能腰带，并优化电池自主性。通过构建振动装置来开发原型，并通过生物力学评估进行验证。结果表明，老年人在姿势平衡和步态等运动任务方面的下肢功能能力有所提高。
