Wearable Tendon Kinetics
This study introduces a noninvasive wearable system for investigating tendon loading patterns during outdoor locomotion on variable terrain. The system leverages shear wave tensiometry, which is a new approach for assessing tendon load by tracking wave speed within the tissue. Our wearable tensiomet...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/17/4805 |
| _version_ | 1797555532219809792 |
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| author | Sara E. Harper Rebecca A. Roembke John D. Zunker Darryl G. Thelen Peter G. Adamczyk |
| author_facet | Sara E. Harper Rebecca A. Roembke John D. Zunker Darryl G. Thelen Peter G. Adamczyk |
| author_sort | Sara E. Harper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study introduces a noninvasive wearable system for investigating tendon loading patterns during outdoor locomotion on variable terrain. The system leverages shear wave tensiometry, which is a new approach for assessing tendon load by tracking wave speed within the tissue. Our wearable tensiometry system uses a battery-operated piezoelectric actuator to induce micron-scale shear waves in a tendon. A data logger monitors wave propagation by recording from two miniature accelerometers mounted on the skin above the tendon. Wave speed is determined from the wave travel time between accelerometers. The wearable system was used to record Achilles tendon wave speed at 100 Hz during 1-km outdoor walking trials in nine young adults. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) simultaneously monitored participant position, walking speed, and ground incline. An analysis of 5108 walking strides revealed the coupled biomechanical effects of terrain slope and walking speed on tendon loading. Uphill slopes increased the tendon wave speed during push-off, whereas downhill slopes increased tendon wave speeds during early stance braking. Walking speed significantly modulated peak tendon wave speed on uphill slopes but had less influence on downhill slopes. Walking speed consistently induced greater early stance wave speeds for all slopes. These observations demonstrate that wearable shear wave tensiometry holds promise for evaluating tendon tissue kinetics in natural environments and uncontrolled movements. There are numerous practical applications of wearable tensiometry spanning orthopedics, athletics, rehabilitation, and ergonomics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:48:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ccfaa5ece174165bcf2160e03bd8527 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:48:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ccfaa5ece174165bcf2160e03bd85272023-11-20T11:22:15ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202020-08-012017480510.3390/s20174805Wearable Tendon KineticsSara E. Harper0Rebecca A. Roembke1John D. Zunker2Darryl G. Thelen3Peter G. Adamczyk4Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USAThis study introduces a noninvasive wearable system for investigating tendon loading patterns during outdoor locomotion on variable terrain. The system leverages shear wave tensiometry, which is a new approach for assessing tendon load by tracking wave speed within the tissue. Our wearable tensiometry system uses a battery-operated piezoelectric actuator to induce micron-scale shear waves in a tendon. A data logger monitors wave propagation by recording from two miniature accelerometers mounted on the skin above the tendon. Wave speed is determined from the wave travel time between accelerometers. The wearable system was used to record Achilles tendon wave speed at 100 Hz during 1-km outdoor walking trials in nine young adults. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) simultaneously monitored participant position, walking speed, and ground incline. An analysis of 5108 walking strides revealed the coupled biomechanical effects of terrain slope and walking speed on tendon loading. Uphill slopes increased the tendon wave speed during push-off, whereas downhill slopes increased tendon wave speeds during early stance braking. Walking speed significantly modulated peak tendon wave speed on uphill slopes but had less influence on downhill slopes. Walking speed consistently induced greater early stance wave speeds for all slopes. These observations demonstrate that wearable shear wave tensiometry holds promise for evaluating tendon tissue kinetics in natural environments and uncontrolled movements. There are numerous practical applications of wearable tensiometry spanning orthopedics, athletics, rehabilitation, and ergonomics.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/17/4805noninvasivefield-based measurementlocomotionmuscle-tendon mechanicsAchillesshear wave tensiometry |
| spellingShingle | Sara E. Harper Rebecca A. Roembke John D. Zunker Darryl G. Thelen Peter G. Adamczyk Wearable Tendon Kinetics Sensors noninvasive field-based measurement locomotion muscle-tendon mechanics Achilles shear wave tensiometry |
| title | Wearable Tendon Kinetics |
| title_full | Wearable Tendon Kinetics |
| title_fullStr | Wearable Tendon Kinetics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wearable Tendon Kinetics |
| title_short | Wearable Tendon Kinetics |
| title_sort | wearable tendon kinetics |
| topic | noninvasive field-based measurement locomotion muscle-tendon mechanics Achilles shear wave tensiometry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/17/4805 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saraeharper wearabletendonkinetics AT rebeccaaroembke wearabletendonkinetics AT johndzunker wearabletendonkinetics AT darrylgthelen wearabletendonkinetics AT petergadamczyk wearabletendonkinetics |