Establishment of Base values in literature & UK research

Summary of Milestone #3 Progress

Published Literature by Dr. Bazrgari:

Dr. Babak Bazrgari shared with us a couple papers that look at low back pain in different scenarios. These papers analyzed the lower back and collected data using different IMU’s and EMGs. Both papers observed subjects walking; while this is not the activity we’ll be observing, it is a base activity we can compare equestrian data to later. From this literature, we are able to determine some base parameters and values. This allows us to know what to look for in our research and how to find it. Cross referencing this with our other meetings and discussions we can determine what kind of data we want to take or sensors we need to use.

Meeting with Carl Mattacola (Dr. Lepart contacted):

We met with Dr. Mattacola at the Sports Medicine Research Institute. He helped us narrow our focus back to accelerometers/IMUs as our sensors for estimating the loading conditions experienced by an equestrian rider. The SMRI facility is in the works of obtaining a one-of-a-kind mechanical simulator of a horse to allow for better simulation of an actual horse, which may be adjustable for a trotting or galloping horse. The facility is currently conducting research on jockeys after concussions, measuring the heart rate to estimate their level of exertion, as well as their helmet acceleration to calculate the forces experienced by the skull. This study will lead to a better estimation for graded recovery from the concussion. Their facility is entirely externally funded, so there may be some issues with us gaining access to their mechanical horse. The IMUs that they are currently using in their concussion project are approximately $1200. We will contact Dr. Mattacola in the future to discuss this project and our future collaborations. Dr. Lephart, the Dean of the College of Health Sciences, has previously done research on posturing of an athlete’s back/pelvis using accelerometers. This is mentioned in the excel sheet submission.

Meeting with Dr. Peterson:

We reached a point of clarity with Mick summarized our last milestone. From this meeting we established that 3D accelerometers are the direction we are headed towards for this senior design project- not EMGs. We will encounter issues with this as measuring accelerations is not a trivial task. Attachment scheme is key when we plan on providing a wearable belt for a range of professional riders. Our goal is to establish: what hurts, what causes that pain, and measurements to back that up. There are many options for sensors and accelerometers, but we are on a budget of 500/600 dollars. We plan on looking into DC response accelerometers and MEMs accelerometers that provide low frequency and increased sensitivity. We will also look into future collaboration with NARA.

Department of Defense research- Analysis and Mitigation of Mechanical Shock Effects on High Speed Planing Boats (article sent from Dr. Peterson):

This article looks at the loading conditions and shocks experienced by US Special Forces on high speed planing boats. A high rate of back pain and injury was reported in their data. Acceleration data was calculated from the boats under typical operating conditions. This was done using SnapShock-PLUS which can measure and store the date, time, peak acceleration, and pulse width. IST’s EDR-3 Acceleration Recorder was also used to measure up to 6 input channels of acceleration data. Both of these were used to measure the values of acceleration of the boat. The article discusses previous human testing using materials, such as a shake table, vertical accelerator, shock machine, etc. They discussed transmissibility and mechanical impedance of the human body as a response to shock. They conducted experiments that show seat to head transmissibility curves between a person and the seat. Model parameters for a biodynamic model of a sitting or standing human are given. The article also discusses and presents a graph on the effect of fatigue on bone and cartilage failure. This is done as cycles to failure vs. stress as a proportion of static ultimate stress.