Problem Statement
The device will detect muscle spasms in the lower back and apply immediate therapeutic vibration to the targeted area automatically to relieve pain caused by the spasms.
Many people suffer from back pain caused by muscle spasms, which are involuntary contractions of muscles. These spasms can occur frequently and cause pain and difficulty in moving the muscle. Current treatments include topical creams and manually-applied massaging to a broad area. The main issue with these treatments is that they are all used after the spasms occur. The goal of this device is to detect muscle spasms in the lower back at the moment of onset and apply vibrations to the localized area to alleviate the pain without the need for human input. Vibrations were chosen to treat spasms because they can relax the muscle, dilate surrounding blood vessels, release endorphins, and affect electrical activity by altering muscular recruitment.
The Muscle Spasm Relief Device utilizes electromyography (EMG) sensors to detect muscle spasms at four locations on the lower back corresponding to the major muscle groups. An Arduino microcontroller is used for signal processing and to control the vibrational motors. The device is attached via a belt and can be worn throughout the day and charged overnight. This specified treatment allows our device to give a more targeted and effective relief treatment than what is currently available.