‘Bones’ is an orthopedic cast with sensors for capturing muscle activity. It is supported by a community-based website for cast users and those who track their mobility and recovery achievements.



After a fracture, the patient goes to the Hospital to be analysed and receives the proper treatment by their doctor. There they are presented with Bones. Each time the user turns on Bones, all the muscle activity around the fracture area is captured by electromyographic (EMG) sensors and stored in the cast device.

This information can be synced via wireless to the user’s online profile where they have a history of their activities as a simulation of their full mobility recovery time according to their progression and exercising routine. On the website, Bones analyses the user’s achievements and suggests specific exercises in order to keep the muscles active around the fracture area. Ultimately, using the Bones cast will reduce the overall period of recovery time.

The clip below shows one day in the life of a "Bones" user.

Bones from Pedro Andrade on Vimeo.

All the information collected from the user goes to the community based website of Bones where it is available online to all. Doctors, physiotherapists and new users of Bones can consult and follow the patient's progress.


"Bones" website
On the website new users can visualize the achievements of current and former patients with the same type of fracture. The reason for sharing this information works as a way to encourage new users to engage with their recovery process from the beginning of their treatment.





Focus area

The process of recovering from a fractured bone is not limited only to the period spent with the cast, but to the entire mobility and muscle strains recovery process. During the cast period the fractured limb loses huge amounts of muscle strain due to the inactivity of the area. One of the causes is that users start to exercise the limb only after removing the cast while they should be engaged in keeping the muscles around the fractured area active from the very first day with the cast.



The goal of Bones is to offer concrete information and a sense of achievement according to the level of exercise that users do during the cast period. Based on all the physical activity data of the patient, Bones simulates the time reduced from the users full mobility and muscle strain recovery treatment.



Download HR images
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Bones Website
Exercise Spots
Video Scenario thumb



Presentation | Slides


Design process







Advisor: Niels Clausen-Stuck

Thanks to:
David Gauthier
Søren Bang
Bjørn Asser Hansen
Robin Engelhardt
Mads Dyreberg Haldrup
Diana Keeling
Simona Maschi

Prototype code reference (GSR reader):
Che-wei Wang

Clip
Cast user: Jennifer Kay
Music: Hold on, by Jet
Directed and produced by Pedro Nakazato Andrade