Oct 13
A Collaborative Approach to Designing a Torso Monitoring Wearable for Stroke
At The MiNT Academy, our vision has always been to bridge the gap between industry, practitioners and patients. We are dedicated to influencing the design of technology to ensure that practical, useful devices are seamlessly integrated into clinical practice. To make this vision a reality, we work closely with technology companies, providing them with clinician and patient feedback, support with grant applications, research protocols, case studies, and conducting feasibility studies.For this project, we collaborated with Latefoss, a company founded in 2021 with a mission to promote health and longevity. Latefoss recognised the critical role of trunk control in overall biomechanics and set out to develop a new Trunk Monitoring Wearable System.
Why Trunk Control in Stroke Patients?
Trunk control holds immense importance in the journey to recovery for stroke patients. Research has shown that it serves as an early predictor of functional outcomes, and targeted trunk training exercises can significantly enhance trunk performance and sitting balance. Beyond this, there's evidence to suggest that trunk training can lead to improvements in activities of daily living, trunk function, standing balance, walking ability, upper and lower limb function, and overall quality of life.However, a challenge we faced in stroke rehabilitation was the lack of devices that could measure data on trunk position and provide real-time feedback to guide patients through their rehabilitation process.
The Innovative Trunk Monitoring Wearable
Latefoss took up this challenge and, in collaboration with us at The MiNT Academy, developed a Trunk Monitoring Wearable System that has the potential to revolutionise stroke rehabilitation. This wearable technology not only digitises and records users' trunk kinematics but also provides live multisensory feedback in real time.Designed with user convenience and home accessibility in mind, the wearable's core principles are aimed at motivating users to focus on improving movement quality and enhancing their awareness of biomechanics.
A Closer Look at the Wearable
The Trunk Monitoring Wearable System collects and processes user kinematic data, presenting it through live visual and haptic feedback. Users receive visual feedback in the form of an avatar and a radar plot, offering a comprehensive view of their movements. Haptic feedback guides users, responding instantly when they deviate from the ideal range, either by pointing them in the right direction (carrot mode) or signalling the direction they need to move away from (wall mode).
Feasibility Study and Key Findings
Our collaborative effort led us to conduct a feasibility study, a crucial step in assessing the potential of this innovative wearable in real-world stroke rehabilitation scenarios. The study aimed to achieve three primary objectives:
1. Assess the usability of the device within the stroke population.
2. Evaluate user comfort and the convenience of using the wearable at home.
3. Compare movement quality with and without feedback from the wearable.
The results of the study were promising:
- Participants found the wearable's feedback to be constructive and comfortable.
- Most users were able to independently put on the device.
- The combination of therapist and device feedback showed the highest improvement in trunk symmetry.
- Visual feedback was more comprehensible than haptic feedback.
- Participants identified the need for more training to fully benefit from the device.
1. Assess the usability of the device within the stroke population.
2. Evaluate user comfort and the convenience of using the wearable at home.
3. Compare movement quality with and without feedback from the wearable.
The results of the study were promising:
- Participants found the wearable's feedback to be constructive and comfortable.
- Most users were able to independently put on the device.
- The combination of therapist and device feedback showed the highest improvement in trunk symmetry.
- Visual feedback was more comprehensible than haptic feedback.
- Participants identified the need for more training to fully benefit from the device.
Looking Towards the Future
Our collaborative journey with Latefoss is far from over. Building on the success of our feasibility study, we aim to:
1. Enhance usability, user interface, and wearable design.
2. Collaborate further for the next phase of studies and explore funding opportunities.
3. Evaluate the device's efficacy against existing trunk outcome measures.
4. Attract more academic involvement to gather supporting evidence.
1. Enhance usability, user interface, and wearable design.
2. Collaborate further for the next phase of studies and explore funding opportunities.
3. Evaluate the device's efficacy against existing trunk outcome measures.
4. Attract more academic involvement to gather supporting evidence.
At The MiNT Academy, we are thrilled to be a part of this collaborative effort that is pushing the boundaries of stroke rehabilitation. The Trunk Monitoring Wearable System holds immense promise for improving the lives of stroke patients by enhancing trunk control and biomechanical awareness. Together, we are pioneering the future of healthcare, where technology and clinical expertise seamlessly converge for the benefit of patients. Stay tuned for more exciting developments on this incredible journey.
Connect with us
Copyright© 2022 Hobbs Rehabilitation LTD
Alison Watt
The MiNT Academy Lead
Alison is The MiNT Academy Lead and a Specialist Neurological and Research Physiotherapist at Hobbs Rehabilitation, UK. With over 10 years of clinical experience within specialist neurological services, Alison previously worked in the NHS specialising in stroke and neurorehabilitation.
As a previous NHS AHP Ward Manager, Alison has always worked within innovative therapy roles. This continues at The MiNT Academy, a growing neurotechnology platform combining clinical education and product development.
As a previous NHS AHP Ward Manager, Alison has always worked within innovative therapy roles. This continues at The MiNT Academy, a growing neurotechnology platform combining clinical education and product development.
Alison coordinates research, development and education activities to enable increased accessibility to clinically effective devices.
As Principle Investigator in technology trials, she has aided the development of devices from concept to market, with recent focusses on Virtual Reality and Exoskeletons. Alison has presented at and organised numerous national and international conferences, including as MiNT Chair at RehabWeek 2022. She has also completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Medical Education and lectures at multiple UK academic institutions.
Alongside this, Alison works clinically at Hobbs Rehabilitation Intensive Neurotherapy Centre in Bristol, combining the use of therapy devices with conventional hands-on treatment, for outpatients with a variety of neurological conditions. Alison uses all of her roles to passionately drive forward the use of neurotechnology in clinical practice to optimise opportunities and outcomes for patients.
As Principle Investigator in technology trials, she has aided the development of devices from concept to market, with recent focusses on Virtual Reality and Exoskeletons. Alison has presented at and organised numerous national and international conferences, including as MiNT Chair at RehabWeek 2022. She has also completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Medical Education and lectures at multiple UK academic institutions.
Alongside this, Alison works clinically at Hobbs Rehabilitation Intensive Neurotherapy Centre in Bristol, combining the use of therapy devices with conventional hands-on treatment, for outpatients with a variety of neurological conditions. Alison uses all of her roles to passionately drive forward the use of neurotechnology in clinical practice to optimise opportunities and outcomes for patients.
Helen Hobbs
The MiNT Academy Development Team
Helen is a specialist neurological physiotherapist with over 25 years of specialist clinical experience and extensive clinical skills including advanced Bobath training. She has a special interest inclinical education, training and research. Helen has held postgraduate clinical training roles at both Kings College NHS Hospital London Neuroscience Centre and Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust before establishing Hobbs Rehabilitation in 2005.
Helen's teaching and leadership skills resulted in international scholarships and fellowships taking Helen to the USA and South Africa. She has presented both nationally and internationally. Helen has close links with several academic institutions including Southampton, Imperial College, Loughborough , Portsmouth and Winchester Universities to provide clinical leadership for the design of future healthcare technologies and research projects.
Her publications have included the effects of robotic assisted gait training on vascular health in strokes and spinal cord injured patients and the European rehabilitation guidelines for MS patients post stem cell transplant.
Amy Dennis-Jones
The MiNT Academy Research Lead
Amy has over 20 years experience working within the field of Neurological rehabilitation. She has worked with a variety of settings capturing the full rehabilitation pathway from acute through to the community.
Since working for Hobbs Rehabilitation in 2015, Amy has worked with an array of neurotechnologies and is a trained Rewalk exoskeleton clinician. She has presented at varying conference and study days, and is on the local committee for ACPIN, a specialist interest group for physiotherapists working in Neurology.
Amy's position within Hobbs Rehabilitation has evolved into a split clinical and research role. She is part of the core development team working on MiNT, an innovative neurotechnology platform combining clinical education and product development as well as leading on research projects and further collaborations.
Outside of physiotherapy, Amy is a qualified yoga teacher and combines her experience with rehabilitation to teach chair/adaptive yoga classes.
Chrissy Bibby
The MiNT Academy Events Lead
Chrissy has worked in the field of adult acquired neurological speech and language therapy for over 15 years, initially in the NHS before joining Hobbs Rehabilitation, where she leads the Speech & Language therapy team. Clinically, she has a special interest in motor speech disorders and rehabilitation of the facial nerve.
Chrissy trained as a teacher before embarking on her career in neurological rehabilitation and enjoys using her teaching skills in all areas of her work with Hobbs Rehabilitation and MiNT.
As Events Lead for The MiNT Academy, Chrissy is embracing the opportunity to discuss with fellow clinicians, academics and industry partners the benefits of using neurotechnology with our communication impaired clients, while encouraging further development in this vital area.
Outside of speech and language therapy, Chrissy enjoys swimming, singing with her local rock choir, baking, sewing, and camping with her family.
Chrissy trained as a teacher before embarking on her career in neurological rehabilitation and enjoys using her teaching skills in all areas of her work with Hobbs Rehabilitation and MiNT.
As Events Lead for The MiNT Academy, Chrissy is embracing the opportunity to discuss with fellow clinicians, academics and industry partners the benefits of using neurotechnology with our communication impaired clients, while encouraging further development in this vital area.
Outside of speech and language therapy, Chrissy enjoys swimming, singing with her local rock choir, baking, sewing, and camping with her family.
Laura Marriott
The MiNT Academy Education Lead
Laura is a specialist Neurological Occupational Therapist with 15 years of experience, over 12 years of which is in the neurological sector. Laura has worked in the NHS from acute care through to community rehabilitation and outpatients and now works in the private sector where she is the lead Occupational Therapist for Hobbs Intensive outpatient rehabilitation service, coordinating intensive rehabilitation packages and treating patients with complex neurological requirements.
Her role within Hobbs has evolved and she has split clinical and research responsibilities. She is part of the MiNT Academy Development Team who have delivered an innovative neurotechnology platform combining clinical education and product development. Her role also involves leading on research projects and further collaborations. Laura has expert clinical skills used to implement neuro assistive and rehabilitation technology into functional contexts building the links between the companies and the patients. Laura presented at Virtual RehabWeek 2021 and is excited to be presenting at RehabWeek 2022 in Rotterdam, showcasing the merits and application of collaboration between skilled clinicians and engineers to create a device that has longevity with both clinicians and patients alike.
Outside of Hobbs Laura enjoys a busy family life, hiking, roller skating and painting.
Lizzie Williams
The MiNT Academy Development Team
Lizzie is a Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist working at Hobbs Rehabilitation since May 2020. She also has a background in orthopaedics, frailty and inpatient rehabilitation. Lizzie jumped at the opportunity to be involved in The MiNT Academy to combine her interest in technology and love for providing high quality rehabilitation for patients. Lizzie brings the perspective of a physiotherapist who routinely utilises neurotechnology with patients as well as teaching and supporting other clinicians in embedding it into practice.
Rachael Edwards
The MiNT Academy Development Team
Rachael Edwards developed a specialist interest in the role of technology in upper limb neurorehabilitation, whilst working as an Occupational Therapist on the upper limb program at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square.
Rachael has relocated to Bristol and is setting up an Occupational Therapy service at Hobbs Rehabilitation Intensive Neurotherapy Centre, where she continues to explore the use of technology to support delivering intensive upper limb rehabilitation.
Louis Martinelli
The MiNT Academy Development Team
With degrees in Sport & Exercise Science
(BSc) and Physiotherapy (MSc pre-registration), Louis has over ten years’ experience of working in neurological rehabilitation and 15 years in the exercise industry.
Trained in both the Ekso GT and ReWalk, Louis has been using exoskeletons on a daily basis with a variety of medical conditions at Hobbs Rehabilitation for seven years. He has also experienced many patient trials/assessments in a variety of other exoskeleton manufactures.
Louis has helped establish a research partnership between Hobbs Rehabilitation and The University of Winchester, which in 2019 published an article on the effects exoskeleton rehabilitation can have on the vascular system in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.
(BSc) and Physiotherapy (MSc pre-registration), Louis has over ten years’ experience of working in neurological rehabilitation and 15 years in the exercise industry.
Trained in both the Ekso GT and ReWalk, Louis has been using exoskeletons on a daily basis with a variety of medical conditions at Hobbs Rehabilitation for seven years. He has also experienced many patient trials/assessments in a variety of other exoskeleton manufactures.
Louis has helped establish a research partnership between Hobbs Rehabilitation and The University of Winchester, which in 2019 published an article on the effects exoskeleton rehabilitation can have on the vascular system in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.
Created with
