Advancing Occupational Medicine through Wearable Technology: A Review of Sensor Systems for Biomechanical Risk Assessment and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) remain a major occupational health concern globally, and the conventional techniques for assessing them suffer some drawbacks. Indeed, conventional observational techniques are faced with subjectivity and the absence of real-time quantitative data; these emphasize the need for improved biomechanical risk assessment tools. Wearable sensor technology, which is considered an improved assessment tool, has received considerable acceptance in the occupational health field for evaluating biomechanical risk and preventing WRMSDs, focusing on their essential features and workplace significance. However, studies that have documented wearable sensors for biomechanical risk assessment focus mainly on the established sensing mechanisms, while the emerging wearable sensors are still in their infancy. This work aims to offer a comprehensive review of existing sensing mechanisms for biomechanical risk assessments, highlighting both established and emerging technologies for the advancement of wearable sensor systems that minimize ergonomic risks. Additionally, it serves as a guide for future research in wearable sensing technology for biomechanical risk evaluation. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across three databases, namely, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus; after the initial screening and removal of duplicates, 522 articles were identified, with 176 being included in the review. This Account discusses the working principles, applications, and limitations in occupational medicine, focusing on various types of wearable sensors, such as optoelectronics, soft wearable sensors, inertial sensors, pressure sensors, and electromyography (EMG) sensors. Moreover, this study offers an exhaustive classification of wearable sensors, emphasizing their development and incorporation into personal protective equipment (PPE). To improve ergonomic interventions and techniques for biomechanical risk assessment, this work promotes the incentive of quantifying ergonomic frameworks, real-time feedback systems, and standalone wearable devices. Our review also identifies key challenges, such as sensor placement, data processing, and worker acceptance, and proposes future directions for improving wearable sensor systems, including sensor fusion, miniaturization, and integration with PPE.