Accelerometer based calf muscle pump activity monitoring

• Published in: Medical engineering & physics Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 717 - 722
• Main Authors: O’Donovan, Karol J., O’Keeffe, Derek T., Grace, Pierce A., Lyons, Gerard M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2005
• Subjects: Accelerometers; Aircraft; Algorithms; Calf muscle pump; Deep vein thrombosis (DVT); Humans; Lower leg; Models, Statistical; Monitoring, Physiologic - instrumentation; Monitoring, Physiologic - methods; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Travel; Venous Thrombosis - diagnosis; Calf muscle pump; Accelerometers; Deep vein thrombosis (DVT); Lower leg
• ISSN: 1350-4533; 1873-4030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2005.02.002

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.