Respiratory and Rehabilitation Exercise Measurements Using Nanocomposite Wearable Sensors

Abstract

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), a common postpartum condition marked by the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, can impair core stability, respiratory efficiency, and pelvic floor function. Despite the demonstrated clinical benefit of targeted exercise interventions, there is an urgent need for wearable technologies that could precisely assess rehabilitation progress and outcomes. This work presents a soft, low-profile, reusable, wearable sensor designed for high-resolution, real-time monitoring of abdominal mechanics during core-focused exercises. The skin-strain sensors were fabricated by sandwiching a multi-walled carbon nanotube thin film within two elastomer layers. Female participants with no history of childbirth were recruited to perform clinically relevant tasks, such as diaphragmatic breathing and various exercises. Wearable sensor skin-strain data, surface electromyography, and commercial respiration belt measurements were recorded for comparison. The results confirmed the system’s ability to resolve task-specific variations in skin-strain while providing insights into muscle coordination and respiratory performance. The vision is to leverage these unique sensing streams to provide patients with real-time feedback while deriving data-driven, personalized rehabilitation strategies.