Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning for the Assessment of Biomechanical Risk in Lifting Tasks

Lifting loads can cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) established a methodology for assessing lifting actions by means of a quantitative method based on intensity, duration, frequency, and other geometrical characteristics of lifting. Body-worn inertial sensor technology provides a number of opportunities to advance the safety and health of workers engaged in physical work. Motion-tracking systems together with Machine learning (ML) algorithms are used in the ergonomic field for biomechanical risk assessment by means of data acquired by wearable inertial systems. The investigators posed the question whether it is possible to classify lifting tasks belonging to different risk classes according to the value of LI using a machine learning approach by means of features extracted from raw signals. Aim of this study was to develop and validate, through ML algorithms, a non-invasive detection system of kinetic-kinematic parameters using IMU and EMG sensors, for the ergonomic assessment of the risk associated with a load lifting activity.

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Key information

Conditions

Wearable Devices

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

The study envisages the voluntary enrollment of healthy subjects, referring to treatment clinics for work-related pathologies (excluding subjects aged <18 or > 65 years, and those with musculoskeletal pathologies or other disabling pathologies in progress), to carry out two repeated lifting tests. The two tests are set up to correspond respectively to the two NIOSH risk classes (LI<1, NO RISK; and LI>1, RISK). The IMU sensors provide wirelessly a series of data from which it is intended to extract a number of features (feature extraction) that have a high predictive power, through the digital signal processing technique using dedicated software (i.e. Matlab, SPSS). In a second step, data obtained from EMG sensors will be added to the analysis. Among the different artificial intelligence algorithms, the investigator will look for those most able to discriminate the various risk classes on the basis of the parameters extracted from the signals detected during the motor task.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

healthy subjects

Exclusion criteria

subjects with musculoskeletal pathologies or other disabling pathologies in progress

Treatment and study plan

wearable device

Device

IMU sensors and EMG sensors

Primary outcomes

Validation of the proposed strategy to assess the risk of lifting activities, according to RNLE

Time frame: first year

accuracy degree and AucRoc

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning: a Technological Approach to Biomechanical Risk Assessment in Lifting Tasks

Important dates

Study start: 2010
Primary completion: 2022
Study completion: 2022
First posted: Mar 21, 2023
Registry last updated: Dec 28, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed