mHealth Wearable Device Can Predict Concussion Risk

June 30, 2022 - A study published in Scientific Reports described how an mHealth wearable device can recognize movements such as neck strain and whiplash and use that information to predict concussion risk in contact sports athletes.

Head injuries are a significant issue in many high-impact sports. Their frequency and prevalence lead professionals to continuously test and experiment with new care methods, as well as for ways to prevent and limit brain trauma.

While considering this, Nelson Sepulveda and his colleagues acknowledged the rapid growth of telehealth and wearable devices and believed that this could be an area of use for modern technology.

Concussions often derive from blows to the head or quick neck jolts, leading researchers to think that a motion-detecting sensor could be a reliable data collecting tool. Accelerometer-based sensors that attach to the head are already in just, but they are often bulky and inaccurate.

To combat this common issue, Sepulveda and the research team developed a novel patch sensor made of thermoplastic material, which they tested using a dummy device containing accelerator-based sensors in the head.

 After dropping the equipped dummy from a 61- centimeter height, they discovered that not only does the sensor create electrical energy when touched, but it also presented a 90 percent positive correlation with movement detection coming from the head.

Although the study reported insightful findings and proved that the device is reliable, further testing using human athletes is necessary to confirm the validity of the system.

Wearable devices to monitor sudden injuries are used commonly and continue to grow more prominent.

In September 2020, Purdue University engineers created a wearable device to improve wound care. The device consisted of a gas-permeable patch to cover a wound and a belt attachment that pipes ozone gas to speed up the healing process.

In May 2021, the US Army noted its plans to invest in creating a wearable device to diagnose concussions. The US Army noted an imperative to treat head injuries for those in the military, sports, schools, and primary care.

Wearable devices have also been highly assistive in detecting and treating COVID-19.

An April 2022 study from the University of Michigan described a smartwatch feature that collects heart rate data, using it to define any symptoms that could relate to COVID-19. The main correlations that researchers noticed were an increase in heart rate per step following the beginning of COVID-19 symptoms, as well as a higher heart rate per step among those with a cough.