Authors:
Juan-Mario Gruber
1
;
Daniel Mühlemann
2
;
Darius Eckhardt
1
and
Ibrahim Evren
1
Affiliations:
1
Institute of Embedded Systems Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
;
2
Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Keyword(s):
Spinal Manipulation, Training, Skill, Biomechanics, Teaching Aid, Force Monitoring Device, Biofeedback.
Abstract:
As part of their training, students of Chiropractic Medicine at Zürich are trained to acquire and then improve their manual and manipulative skills, especially their ability to deliver manipulative thrusts with a defined preloading force, an impulse that is delivered with an adequate and reproducible force within a defined time without letting up on the preload-pressure. In order to facilitate this process, objective feedback is paramount. This led to the idea of developing a force-measurement and -monitoring system. The newly developed system consists of a wireless device with a force sensor and an app that is running on standard smartphones. The device records the force applied to the sensor and transmits it via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to the app. There it is visualised as a graph and can be evaluated. The system allows us to provide all students with a tool to develop their manual skills, and especially their thrusting technique. As the feedback given by the system can be recor
ded, progress can be monitored and students can be mentored accurately according to their strengths and weaknesses.
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