Design and Development of an Air-Driven Posture Correction Device /
Muhammad Haris
- 129p. Soft Copy 30cm.
The prevalence of postural kyphosis continues to rise across all demographics because of inactive lifestyles and extended screen time usage which has established itself as a major musculoskeletal issue. The current solutions including static braces and feedback-only wearables, fail to provide adaptability and comfort with active correction features. This restricts their ability to achieve longterm success and user adherence. The research introduces a new wearable air-driven posture correction device which combines real-time sensing with pneumatic actuation to treat flexible thoracic kyphosis. The proposed wearable tech device focuses on posture correction by integrating multiple features into one compact device. The system includes an MPU-6050 inertial measurement unit which tracks the user’s trunk in real time in six degrees of freedom. A microcontroller processes this data and determines if changes to posture exceed a calibrated angular threshold. If so, the system triggers a pneumatic actuation module within an orthopedic vest that has been altered for this purpose. This module includes butyl rubber chambers which are constrained but designed to inflate and mechanically stress the upper back by simulating the action of scapular retractor muscles. To measure the corrective force, force-sensitive resistors (FSRs) are placed where the actuators and the body interface. A closed-loop control system dynamically adaptive and responsive to real time conditions with sensor fusion guarantees timely action and feedback. The prototype was tested by means of both objective and subjective methods, with a full-scale experimental protocol involving 24 healthy participants. Data collected in this study included realtime pitch angle vs actuator force, and subjective user feedback through standardized ergonomic surveys such as the Borg CR10 scale, Corlett & Bishop discomfort map, and the System Usability Scale (SUS). Results indicate that the system successfully minimized thoracic pitch deviation while maintaining safe tactile force levels, achieving average corrective pressures of 7–12 kPa, resulting in notable postural enhancement. The system reliably attained enhancements in posture, surpassing 85% in 22 out of 24 participants. This work contributes a fully automated, textile-integrated pneumatic solution for posture correction, combining real-time sensing, adaptive actuation, and ergonomic design. The proposed xix system offers a replicable framework for intelligent musculoskeletal rehabilitation wearables and lays the groundwork for future closed-loop personalization strategies in postural health technologies.