SPINAL/PELVIC ALIGNMENT MONITORING OF WHEELCHAIR USERS

Spinal deformity can lead to loss of stability and upper body function, including a decrease in respiratory capacity. Effective non-invasive procedures for measuring and recording spinal/pelvic alignment of a seated person are unavailable. The focus of this proposal is to describe a new method of measuring spinal/pelvic alignment using a radio frequency carrier phase measurement technique. To utilize this method a person remains seated in his or her own personal wheeled mobility device. Small, flexible transmitting antennas are taped to prominent landmarks on the spine. Receiving antennas are strategically placed behind the person's wheelchair. Once processed, the received signal provides data to allow accurate three dimensional measurement of a person's spinal/pelvic alignment.