Feasibility Study for Wearable Sensor-Based Vibrotactile Feedback for Posture and Muscle Activation in a Relevant Dentistry Setting

This feasibility study evaluated a wearable sensor-based haptic feedback system designed to promote ergonomic awareness and influence posture and muscle activation patterns during a standard dental procedure. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) monitored posture by tracking back and neck angles, while four surface electromyography sensors recorded muscle activation in the lower erector spinae (LES) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles. Two IMUs with vibrotactile motors delivered real-time haptic feedback when participants maintained mechanically disadvantageous postures for extended periods during a cast metal crown preparation procedure on a manikin typodont. Data from four dental students participating in a total of 24 trials, half with and half without feedback, were analyzed via a two-way ANOVA to determine the effects of feedback and activity (e.g., inspections or drilling) on posture and muscle activation. Feedback slightly increased neck angles, but back angles remained nominally unchanged. Reduced UT activation and increased right LES activation suggests altered muscle recruitment strategies. Heatmap and RULA analyses indicated a shift toward more varied and potentially safer postural distributions during feedback trials. Postural and muscle activation data were also analyzed across four activity labels, which revealed that Drilling was consistently associated with higher ergonomic risk. Real-time haptic feedback influenced posture and muscle activation in dental students, particularly by reducing UT strain despite increased neck flexion. These findings support the integration of wearable feedback systems into preclinical training to enhance ergonomic awareness and potentially reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, to which dentists are particularly prone.