Accelerometer based calf muscle pump activity monitoring.
O'Donovan, Karol J;O'Keeffe, Derek T;Grace, Pierce A;Lyons, Gerard M;
medical engineering & physics2005Vol. 27pp. 717-22
239
odonovan2005accelerometermedical
Abstract
Long distance travel is associated with increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). There is an increased risk of travel related DVT in passengers with a predisposition to thrombosis. Assisting blood circulation in the lower limb will reduce the risk of DVT. Leg exercises are recommended as a DVT preventative measure while flying but this fails to account for a passenger who is distracted by in flight entertainment or who falls asleep for an extended period. A method for monitoring calf muscle pump activity using accelerometers has been developed and evaluated. The proposed technique could be used to alert the traveller that there is a need to exercise their calf muscle, thus reducing the risk of DVT.