Patel, S., Park, H., Bonato, P., Chan, L. & Rodgers, M.
A review of wearable sensors and systems with application in rehabilitation' Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2012,9:21 doi:10.1186/1743-0003-9-21
Article available at www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/pdf/1743-0003-9-21.pdf
"...there exist technologies that hold great promise to expand the capabilities of the health care system, extending its range into the community, improving diagnostics and monitoring, and maximizing the independence and participation of individuals."
Three systems work together to permit this: sensors, wireless transmission of information and data analysis. Easily wearable devices (similar in size to a wristwatch) perform the functions of sensing some property (movement, pulse, respirations, temperature) and sending this information wirelessly to a networked device such as a smart phone. Once networked, the information is assessed by data analysing software. Short messages can be created to let the healthcare professional know of normal or abnormal activity. If necessary, alerts are sent out to family members or healthcare professionals.
This article discusses these technologies in detail and develops examples highlighting different applications of the key ‘enabling’ technologies, including home-based rehabilitation programs, an application that extends the reach and participation of healthcare recipients.