Germany has unveiled “smart pants” that track, monitor and evaluate the movement of muscles, opening up a new way of treating knee, thigh and other joint issues in the future.
The intelligent pants for movement analysis, developed by research project SMOVE, were shared with visitors to Campus Germany at Expo 2020 Dubai, who heard how the efficiency of joints decreases and movement becomes more difficult with age, accidents and diseases.
Doctor Vincent Hofbauer, Consultant Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery Specialist in Hand Surgery and Special Trauma Surgery from University Hospital Muenster, said: “Sometimes we defer to the surgical solution, and the replacement of a joint with another one, usually made of metal and plastic. In order to avoid such operations, we have to ensure that the muscles are moving, as the lack or absence of movement may cause health problems later.”
Through vibration sensors on the wrist that monitor hand movement, “Smart Pants” enable doctors to ‘see’ muscle movement, enabling them to identify issues and monitor patients’ conditions.
