Smart wearable device developed to monitor muscle health

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University are developing a wearable device to detect and monitor sarcopenia, an age-related condition defined as loss of muscle mass, function and power.

Sarcopenia, which affects around 10% of people aged over 60, is associated with reduced mobility and an increased risk of falls, but is difficult to diagnose because of a lack of objective, quantitative tools.

To address this, experts from Nottingham Trent University, Newcastle University and Axomics Medical Ltd are developing a smart textile band, called Axoband, which measures electrical signals generated by muscles and uses an embedded electronic sensor to track movement.

Project lead, Professor Yang Wei, principal investigator and professor of wearable technology at Nottingham Trent’s Medical Technologies Innovation Facility, said: “There is currently no quality way to diagnose, monitor and assess sarcopenia.

“With sarcopenia becoming a growing problem in an ageing population, this is crucial in ensuring people are diagnosed more quickly and efficiently, allowing the right measures to be put in place as soon as possible.”

Sarcopenia has a high economic burden, with muscle weakness and associated falls estimated to cost the UK £2.5bn a year, according to a study published in the journal Calcified Tissue International in 2019.

The number of people diagnosed with sarcopenia globally is forecast to rise by more than a quarter in the next 25 years as the population ages.

Having an accurate method of diagnosing the condition and monitoring progression will enable clinicians to start treatment earlier and identify treatments, such as nutritional, exercise and pharmaceutical interventions, to help reduce the severity or delay the onset of clinical frailty.

The Axoband, which is designed to be worn on the leg, is intended to be low cost to manufacture, stretchable and washable.

Bespoke software will process signals recorded from the band during clinical tests and provide a quantitative measure of muscle health, with an app indicating the probability that the patient has sarcopenia.

The research is being funded by support from Wellcome Leap’s global Dynamic Resilience programme, jointly funded with the Temasek Trust, which aims to reduce progression to frailty in those over 65 by 25%, improving the quality of life for older people.

It is underpinned by earlier work led by Dr Annette Pantall, co-principal investigator and chief executive of Axomics Medical Ltd, and formerly of Newcastle University.

Dr Pantall said: “We are delighted to be part of Wellcome Leap’s Dynamic Resilience program and to have the opportunity to further develop the Axoband and associated software.

“This innovative device will make a tremendous difference to the quality of life of older adults and also to people with muscle loss associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer.”