Executive Summary : | Neck pain is a major public health issue, affecting over 332 million people worldwide. It is primarily caused by inappropriate neck postures and prolonged use of electronic gadgets. These postures cause excessive stress on cervical spine structures, leading to muscle fatigue, a precursor to neck pain. To detect, predict, and prevent fatigue-related issues, continuous monitoring of neck-head movements is crucial. Fatigue is typically evaluated using endurance time, maximum voluntary contraction, and perceived effort. However, surface electromyography (sEMG) is preferred for continuous monitoring due to its non-invasive nature and lack of reliable biomarkers. This research aims to develop a novel multimodal fatigue scoring system that uses sEMG, force myography (FMG), mechanomyography (MMG), and kinematic data from neck-head movements. The system will also analyze the correlation between inappropriate neck postures, cervical spine disc loads, and fatigue. The study will measure neck muscle activities and neck-head kinematics during sustained isometric and dynamic flexion and extension movements. Advanced signal processing approaches will be used to analyze the effect of neck postures on neck flexion angle, cervical loads, and range of motion. Force will be estimated from mathematical models of sEMG and neck-head kinematics, and the effect of inappropriate postures will be examined. The development of this system will enable continuous monitoring of neck postures, preventing or protecting potential risk factors associated with neck pain and injuries. This new scientific knowledge base and multimodal system will contribute to a better understanding of neck pain and its prevention. |