workers’ posture

New monitoring device to track posture of sedentary workers

IMPERIAL College London is working on a new project that aims to develop a monitoring device to track daily posture and body activity of people suffering from back pain, mainly while working in front of a computer.

In the UK, almost half of employed adults are working from home because of the recent pandemic. This means that a surge is expected in the number of people suffering from back pain due to long hours sitting at their desks and to incorrect posture. The current number is already staggering: 540 million people around the world suffer from lower back pain at any one time, making back pain the largest single-cause of disability world-wide.

Feedback

Claire is a smart lifestyle-based support to allow people to prevent and self-manage back pain, empowering and providing them with control over their own wellbeing. It achieves it with an AI-powered platform based on contactless monitoring of body activity and sitting posture and on real-time feedback.

The proposed smart system will use contactless monitoring with radar technology to track posture and body activity, with no need to wear any devices, while respecting the user’s privacy. Moreover, a real-time feedback will notify the user through an app when slouching on the seat or when they need to stand up straight and move/take a break. Finally, a personalised AI-powered assistant will interpret and learn over time from sitting and movement habits and tailor the advice accordingly.

Dorian Haci, a researcher in medical technologies at Imperial College London said: “By combining novel sensing technologies with an intelligent platform, we believe we can provide people suffering from back pain with smart tools helping them to prevent and self-manage their pain, nudging towards a healthier lifestyle.”

The team would like to speak to TalkBack readers currently suffering from back pain or who have suffered in the past and understand what their daily activity looks like and what they currently use to prevent and manage their pain. Contact: d.haci14@imperial.ac.uk

Methods to evaluate technology – NICE presents a case for change

NICE has launched a public consultation on proposals for changes to the methods it uses to develop guidance on medicines, medical devices and diagnostics.

The potential changes are part of the largest review ever carried out into the methods and processes NICE uses to produce its guidance on health technologies.

Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at NICE, said: “As we develop

Talkback – the only back pain magazine in the UK

Talkback is published by BackCare, the charity for back and neck pain since 1968. It caters for the increasing number of people who are sufferring from back pain, nearly 80% of the UK population, provides research news and latest developments & treatments to patients and healthcare professionals alike. Talkback Advertising Talkback – the only back pain magazine in the UK Talkback is published by BackCare, the charity for Talkback Advertising Talkback – the only back pain magazine in the UK Talkback is published by BackCare, the charity for Image: senivpetro/freepik Talkback is a full colour glossy magazine produced back and neck pain since 1968. It caters for the back and neck pain since 1968. It caters for the quarterly which includes the following editorial content: increasing number of people who are sufferring fromincreasing number of people who are sufferring from  Latest developments and approach to back pain back pain, nearly 80% of the UK population, providesback pain, nearly 80% of the UK population, provides and in its management research news and latest developments & treatments research news and latest developments & treatments  Health and Exercise to patients and healthcare professionals alike.to patients and healthcare professionals alike.    Articles aimed at prevention of back pain Patient centred approaches to treatment Research News Talkback is a full colour glossy magazine produced quarterly which includes the following editorial content:  Latest developments and approach to back pain Talkback is a full colour glossy magazine produced quarterly which includes the following editorial content:  Latest developments and approach to back pain  Sections specially targeted to BackCare and in its managementand in its management Professionals and therapists  Health and Exercise Health and Exercise Reducing risk through ergonomics-based design changes  Readers Letters  Articles aimed at prevention of back pain Articles aimed at prevention of back pain  BackCare branch news and events  Back product testing and the latest gadgets  Patient centred approaches to treatment  Research News  Patient centred approaches to treatment  Research News Call for entries for MSD Issues and Dates  Sections specially targeted to BackCare Professionals and therapists  Readers Letters  Sections specially targeted to BackCare Professionals and therapists  Readers Letters design awards Talkback is quarterly, i.e. 4 issues every year.  BackCare branch news and events  Back product testing and the latest gadgets  BackCare branch news and events  Back product testing and the latest gadgets“RISK-reduction through design” is an award that aims to inspire musculoskeletal risks for workers – especially examples businesses to consider how that have made a real impact. Issue 1 – Spring Edition - Published in March (Advertising deadline 15th of February) Issues and Dates Issues and Datesergonomics-based design changes can reduce the risks Design solutions that have reduced musculoskeletal risks to Talkback is quarterly, i.e. 4 issues every year. Talkback is quarterly, i.e. 4 issues every year.of work-related musculoskeletal large numbers of workers will be Issue 2 – Summer Edition - Published in June (Advertising deadline 15th of May)Issue 1 – Spring Edition - Published in March (Advertising deadline 15th of February) Issue 1 – Spring Edition - Published in March (Advertising deadline 15th of February) disorders (MSDs). Each year, it is sponsored by attractive, but the organisers are also looking for novel, innovative Issue 3 – Autumn Edition - Published in September This is a special bumper edition in line with the theme of BackCare Awareness Week campaign for the year (Advertising deadline 15th of August) Issue 4 – Winter Edition - Published in December Issue 2 – Summer Edition - Published in June (Advertising deadline 15th of May) Issue 3 – Autumn Edition - Published in September This is a special bumper edition in line with the theme of BackCare Awareness Week campaign for the year Issue 2 – Summer Edition - Published in June (Advertising deadline 15th of May) Issue 3 – Autumn Edition - Published in September This is a special bumper edition in line with the theme of BackCare Awareness Week campaign for the year the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) to reinforce the message that risks from MSDs can be controlled or niche solutions. In-house or consultant-led design changes are eligible for the awards, though the businesses should make the nominations (not the designers). (Advertising deadline 15th of November)(Advertising deadline 15th of August)(Advertising deadline 15th of August)and that employers should Nominations for the 2020-21 eliminate or reduce these risks award should describe the task, Issue 4 – Winter Edition - Published in DecemberIssue 4 – Winter Edition - Published in Decemberat source where possible. work setting and the MSD issue (Advertising deadline 15th of November)(Advertising deadline 15th of November)Submissions are now open you were trying to solve before for the 2020-21 award. You can the design changes. Include nominate any design solution photograph(s) to illustrate implemented in workplaces in your main points. Send your the UK that have demonstrated nomination to: MSDPP@hse. how you have reduced gov.uk by 31 January 2021.

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Methods to evaluate technology – NICE presents a case for change

a new regulatory and access environment for medicines, medical devices, diagnostics and digital health technologies, our methods should be aimed at supporting early patient access at a reasonable cost to the NHS, for example by encouraging companies to launch their products in the UK first.

“Ensuring that our methods are clear, transparent and predictable should allow us to speed up evaluation processes for new and emerging technologies.” www.nice.org.uk

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