Wearable Flexible Sensors for Spinal Motion Monitoring

With the deepening of societal aging, degenerative spinal diseases have become increasingly prevalent in China and are one of the leading causes of disability among middle-aged and elderly populations. Current musculoskeletal assessment methods primarily focus on imaging rather than functional evaluation, and emphasize static over dynamic analysis, failing to capture the daily functional state of the musculoskeletal system. This limitation hinders a deeper understanding of functional patterns and their role in the progression of degenerative spinal diseases. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop precise and dynamic functional assessment methods that overcome the constraints of time and space in measurement. This project adopts a dynamic perspective of the musculoskeletal system, developing a wearable monitoring approach based on flexible sensors to assess limb and spinal motion. The method will be validated against traditional imaging techniques such as X-ray and ultrasound, laying the foundation for investigating the pathogenesis of degenerative spinal diseases. This research aligns with China's strategic initiatives and practical needs in addressing the challenges of an aging population.