An Interactive Wireless-based Telemedicine System for Back Care Applications

According to recent reports, millions of workers suffer from dorso-lumbar pain due to their occupation. This problem affects people, who work seated in front of a screen; who have to stand up for long periods of time; who have to handle heavy weights; or who have to endure forced and awkward postures. In this paper, a system is proposed to allow the assessment of the muscular condition in any environment (at work, at school, in the house...), in a comfortable and simple way for the patient and using the advances in wireless communications. Only a wireless electromyograph and a handheld device (Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or mobile phone) with wireless interface are needed. By the PDA or mobile phone, the user can configure the medical device and transmit online the electromyographic signals to a remote server. In this way, the specialist can consult the results and assess the function of the muscle during the activity in order to establish healthy behaviours for the patient. Again, the PDA or mobile phone is used to show the report.