A tech-driven garment designed for nurses to mitigate discomfort in the back area.
Addressing Back Pain in Caregivers: A Novel Approach with Digital Shirts
Caregivers in Brunswick, Lower Saxony are testing a potential solution to reduce back pain on the job – a digital undershirt equipped with a sensor that monitors posture and vibrates when correct lifting techniques are not followed.
For several weeks, caregivers like Viola Ehrenberg have been wearing the special shirt, developed by Benjamin Holmer, an engineer from Brunswick. The shirt's unique feature is its long, linear sensor that covers nearly the entire spine and provides real-time feedback on incorrect lifting.
While preventing incorrect lifting is ideal, it's not always feasible, and the sensor is programmed to alert when this occurs. Ehrenberg, who assists 85-year-old Mrs. Langkopf, explains the challenges of consistently adjusting beds to her working height.
Holmer aims to address the impact of poor posture on back pain with his startup, 'rectify.' He explains, "There are currently no data on how bad posture affects back pain." The digital shirt records daily movements and calculates a short, individual workout routine to target overloaded body parts.
According to Holmer, the beauty of the digital shirt lies in its ability to motivate caregivers. Jaqueline Pflanz, a care home employee, agrees. "We have a group chat, and we encourage each other," she says. The app rewards good posture with virtual coins, and caregivers seem to appreciate the stretching exercises it offers.
The cost of the shirt and app is typically covered by employers, but some health insurers are now subsidizing the shirt. In 2023, employees in elderly care were absent due to back pain for an average of 4.4 days. With the rising number of retirees in caregiving roles, improved solutions like the digital shirt could help reduce absenteeism.
Sports physician Florian Brand supports the shirt, stating, "Exercise is always the number one answer when you have pain, but a shirt like this can help detect incorrect postures much earlier, before the pain develops."
As the pilot project concludes in a few days, a review will determine whether participants wish to continue wearing the digital shirts. Ehrenberg, a caregiver, expresses her support for continued use.
Caregiver absences due to mental health issues and an imminent staff shortage due to retirements have been a concern for Lower Saxony. While the digital shirt may not be a comprehensive solution, it presents an innovative approach to addressing the challenges faced by caregivers in the region.
Source: Our-website
Keywords: Back pain, Brunswick, Caregiving
The digital shirt, developed in Brunswick, leverages science and technology to address back pain in caregivers, offering a novel approach in health-and-wellness by monitoring posture and providing real-time feedback. As the pilot project concludes, caregivers like Viola Ehrenberg may continue to wear the shirt as a potential solution to reduce absenteeism due to back pain, while also fostering a sense of camaraderie through the app's virtual rewards and stretching exercises.
