Apparatus and method for monitoring strain and/or load applied to a mammal

摘要

Apparatus for monitoring strain and/or load applied to the body of a vertebral mammal includes means for measuring acceleration of the body relative to an inertial frame of reference and for providing data indicative of the acceleration; means for measuring muscle activity and for providing data indicative of the muscle activity; means for storing the data at least temporarily; and means for processing the data to provide a measure of the strain and/or load applied to the body. The means for measuring acceleration includes at least one inertial sensor. The or each inertial sensor includes an accelerometer. The apparatus includes means for deriving angular position from the acceleration data and the angular position is derived by calculating a forward tilt angle and a side tilt angle. The accelerometer is adapted for .measuring acceleration along three orthogonal axes. The apparatus includes means for deriving rotational position of the body and the means for deriving rotational position includes a gyroscope. The apparatus includes means for calculating body orientation from the angular and/or rotational position.