Needs and Attitudes of Older Chronic Back Pain Patients towards a Wearable for Ultrasound Biofeedback during Stabilization Exercises: A Qualitative Analysis

Luis Perotti; Oskar Stamm; Lisa Mesletzky; Susan Vorwerg; Marc Fournelle; Ursula Müller-Werdan

doi:10.3390/ijerph20064927

Needs and Attitudes of Older Chronic Back Pain Patients towards a Wearable for Ultrasound Biofeedback during Stabilization Exercises: A Qualitative Analysis

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 10;20(6):4927. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20064927.

Authors

Luis Perotti¹, Oskar Stamm¹, Lisa Mesletzky¹, Susan Vorwerg¹, Marc Fournelle², Ursula Müller-Werdan¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geriatrics and Medical Gerontology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13347 Berlin, Germany.
² Department of Ultrasound, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, 66280 Sulzbach, Germany.

Abstract

Chronic back pain has a high prevalence, especially in older adults, and seriously affects sufferers' quality of life. Segmental stabilization exercise (SSE) is often used during physiotherapy to enhance core stability. The execution of SSE requires the selective contraction of deep abdominal and back muscles. Motor learning can be supported using ultrasound imaging as visual biofeedback. ULTRAWEAR is a mobile ultrasound system that provides deep learning-based biofeedback on SSE execution, which is currently under development. We interviewed 15 older chronic back pain patients (CBPPs) to investigate their pain management behavior, experience with SSE, as well as their needs and requirements for ULTRAWEAR. We also gathered information about future-usage scenarios. CBPPs reported a high willingness to use the system as a feedback tool both in physiotherapeutic practices and at home. The automated detection and evaluation of muscle contraction states was highlighted as a major benefit of the system compared to the more subjective feedback provided by traditional methods such as palpation. The system to be developed was perceived as a helpful solution to support learning about SSE.

Keywords: biofeedback; chronic back pain; deep learning; older adults; physiotherapy; segmental stabilization; ultrasound imaging; wearable.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Attitude
Back Pain
Biofeedback, Psychology / methods
Exercise Therapy / methods
Humans
Low Back Pain* / diagnosis
Quality of Life
Ultrasonography
Wearable Electronic Devices*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e. V.) under grant number 01EC1906C. The APC was funded by the Open Access Publication Fund of Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin.