Pioneering Research uses Wearable Devices in eHealth Interventions
New Findings Support Positive Impact of Physical Activity in Patients With Low Back Pain
CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- There are an estimated 1.2 million people in the US who suffer from lower back pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) at any given time. Treating this pain is expensive, costing patients over $40 billion annually. Vivametrica today announced that recent research (http://bit.ly/1uc113c) has revealed that eHealth interventions can increase mobility and quality of life for patients with LSS and potentially alleviate the need for invasive surgical procedures. To view the published study, authored by Vivametrica cofounder and COO Christy Tomkins Lane, Ph.D., visit: http://bit.ly/1xyoROa.
The results of the study show that eHealth interventions that use activity trackers can increase mobility and reduce the symptoms of LSS dramatically.
- Weight a significant factor: This new research shows that the strongest predictor of daily function in people with LSS is body mass index, suggesting that weight loss and increased physical activity can improve the condition. Further research introduced activity monitors as a novel way to assess changes in people being treated for LSS.
- Objective activity measures: eHealth interventions using pedometers or accelerometers to measure physical activity provide objective evaluations, eliminating guesswork that is typically dependent on subjective patient feedback. This fosters better, more appropriate treatment.
- Preventative care: Using wearable devices with this population empowers LSS patients to take an active role in their own health and promotes behavior changes, resulting in healthier people who are less likely to seek out care for back pain in the future.
Dr. Christy Tomkins Lane, cofounder and COO, Vivametrica, said: "No one thought exercise intervention was possible with LSS patients due to their limited mobility. But people are not just a spine or a hip; positive interventions in one area have a cascading effect that can make a person healthier overall. These studies show that it is possible to overcome the vicious cycle of pain and inactivity that can lead to other health problems. By implementing eHealth interventions using wearable devices, care providers can help patients create and follow through on long-term health goals. We're excited to continue validating the positive impact of wearable devices in healthcare."
About Vivametrica
Vivametrica provides a first of its kind analytics platform for wearable healthcare. Its device agnostic platform delivers a standardized approach to data collection and management, bridging the gap between wearable fitness applications and actionable data for consumers, enterprises, healthcare and researchers. Created by physicians and researchers, Vivametrica's approach is based on comprehensive clinical findings in the fields of physical activity, rehabilitation and medicine. For more information, visit www.vivametrica.com.
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SOURCE Vivametrica
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