Physiotherapist Advances Wearable Tech Movement With Personal Movement Data

With insight into the most sophisticated tools in biomechanics, physiotherapists have developed a wearable device that is taking the market by storm. Conveniently worn on the body, the device known as dorsaVi is bringing the biomechanics lab to you and to elite athletes, researchers, healthcare professionals, and workplaces across the world.

The FDA-cleared device is an intuitive development in a space that continues to enhance experiences and empower personal health. “In the health space, where dorsaVi operates, improvements in technology continue to make what was once impossible possible,” says Megan Connell, Chief Marketing Officer. For Connell and her team, the impossible has meant many things in the past.

Workplace Developments

Across industries, manual holding injuries remain a serious issue with the majority of injuries caused by overuse and poor movement quality. Chronic work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) have become one of the most expensive of all workers’ compensations. And for the workers, themselves, an injury is incredibly disruptive to both their quality of life. It is a personal problem that requires an objective solution. This is where dorsaVi comes in. Combining movement sensors with HD video, dorsaVi’s objective movement data analyzes and pinpoints injury risk in real time. Producing accurate data, companies in construction, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and many other industries may now find solutions and effective policy and equipment changes. Now, safety in the workplace is no longer a guessing game. It is simply one that requires a little objectivity and analysis.

“For these repetitive strain injuries, prevention is really the key and we’ve done some very interesting work with large organizations to identify risk and then design it out of their workplace,” says Connell. One such example is Heathrow Airport. Utilizing dorsaVi data, shoulder muscle strain was reduced by 67% and back muscle strain by 88%. The use of manual handling aids increased by 60% while manual holding injuries were reduced by 53% as well within just a year.

Clinical Developments

The device was developed by practicing Physiotherapist, Andrew Ronchi in partnership with his brother, Dan Ronchi. Together, they saw an opportunity to bring greater possibilities for clinical treatment. Bringing enhancements in movement data, the team has joined forces with health practitioners in physical therapy, chiropractic, orthopedics, as well as strength & conditioning training. Clients may now track their progress via the client app to obtain greater clarity in the healing process.

Sports Developments

The rehabilitation process has become a challenging journey for athletes who are unsure when it is safe to return to play. Only now, with insight into movement data, athletes are able to make an informed decision and feel more empowered than ever. The dorsaVi solution combines muscle activity and motion sensors with sophisticated logarithms to deliver results at 200 frames per second. Joining elite teams in the NBS, NFL, MLS, and NHL, dorsaVi has become a trusted metric for the return to play decision, guiding training and performance along the way.

“The dorsaVi wearable sensor solutions allow many aspects of detailed human movement and position to be accurately captured, quantified, with the same level of accuracy as a biomechanics lab – but with the benefit of it being simple to use, low cost and accessible for use in real situations in real-time,” Connell says.

For dorsaVi, it’s more than enhancing human movement in a physical sense. It’s about moving individuals forward with greater confidence and personal power.
With personal movement data at our fingertips, the impossible becomes possible, and our health becomes truly personal.