An app with two products—a desktop device and a wearable device—designed to help people who have scoliosis and have to sit for extended periods maintain spinal health, set up better working habits and reduce chroinic discomfort.

Overview

Extended hours of desk work have led to a growing prevalence of spinal issues, including scoliosis, among adults and students. Prolonged sitting without proper posture awareness contributes significantly to back pain and long-term spine problems. There is an urgent need for a digital solution to help individuals who work at desks monitor and improve their spinal health, promoting healthier habits and reducing the risk of chronic conditions.

Solution

In order to improve people’s health and prevent a more serious scoliosis, I did research about how scoliosis and other health poblems are caused by, and designed an app with a wearable and a desktop device. These products will together help people have a healthier schedule and remind people with better working habits.

Problem Discovery

When I was 14, I noticed that my pelvis appeared asymmetrical. Concerned, I visited the hospital, where I underwent the Adam’s Forward Bend Test and was diagnosed with scoliosis. Further screening provided detailed measurements of the curvature in my S-shaped spine. This was my first introduction to scoliosis.

As I became more aware and conducted research, I learned that scoliosis is a common condition, often emerging during adolescence or affecting individuals who sit for extended periods daily. Many people experience chronic pain or discomfort as a result. This realization highlighted the importance of addressing this issue to improve quality of life. It inspired me to consider solutions that could help individuals manage and alleviate the impact of scoliosis.

Research

What is scoliosis?

Spine

Spine is an important part that supports people’s weight and daily behaviors. There are lots of complex muscles around the spine to make it work. The core muscles there includes Rectus Abdominis, Obliques, Lower Back Muscles, Erector spinae. Their function is to support the balance of our spine. Here’s the diagram that shows the main muscles around the spine at the back. However, the spine will be under pressure if people have bad habits in long terms--scoliosis is one of a common problems.

Scoliosis

A one-side bend of spine: C shape or S shape. It usually happens along with the assymetry of the gap between two arms and the high-level difference of two shoulders and hipbone. It mostly happens during adulesent period when children grow up fast.

How serious is the scoliosis condition among people who need to sit for a long time everyday?

Data in China

According to research including data from Chinanews, scoliosis happens a lot among teenagers. Also, female are under higher proportion in the data.

Scoliosis Bend Degree proportion among teenagers

Gender proportion of Scoloisis among teenagers

Data in the U.S.

“Scoliosis affects 2-3 percent of the population, or an estimated six to nine million people in the United States. Scoliosis can develop in infancy or early childhood. However, the primary age of onset for scoliosis is 10-15 years old, occurring equally among both genders. Females are eight times more likely to progress to a curve magnitude that requires treatment. Every year, scoliosis patients make more than 600,000 visits to private physician offices, an estimated 30,000 children are fitted with a brace and 38,000 patients undergo spinal fusion surgery.”

---- National Scoliosis Foundation, June 2007

What are the reasons that prolonged sitting can easily lead to spinal issues?

Through research, I found that people who sit for long periods are likely to adopt incorrect postures due to fatigue. Maintaining these poor postures over time can lead to a series of spinal issues.

What are the existing ways for people to improve their spine health?

There are several common methods people use to improve spine health. Based on their format, I’ve divided them into Active and Passive approaches.

Result

Through research on global data, I discovered that scoliosis is a common condition. It often begins in adolescence and can persist as a lifelong issue.

One of the most common behaviors that negatively impacts spine health is maintaining poor posture during prolonged sitting, which can exacerbate scoliosis.

Existing methods to improve spine health can generally be categorized into two approaches: Active and Passive.

Define Problem

Scoliosis is a common chronic condition affecting people worldwide, often developing during adolescence. How might we support individuals with scoliosis who sit for extended periods each day in better monitoring their spine health, establishing a healthier work-life routine to prevent worsening, and alleviating pain or discomfort associated with the condition?

Insights

Based on the research, I found that the internal motivation and external help are two essential points for people to consistently take care about their spine health in daily life. Thus, it is nessecary to combine these two elements to help people achieve the goal.

Design

Introduction

Based on the analysis, I designed an app and two devices--an wearable device and a desktop device. The following design part is devided by software design for the app and hardware design for the devices.

Software Design

Sitemap

Wireframe

Flowchart

Styelsheet

Interfaces

Hardware/product Design

Wearable Device

Desktop Device

White Model

This is the white model built from C4D based on my scketch.

Final Model

By Monitoring user’s sitting pose when they are working, the spine like part is originally in green and it will move and change its shape same as your real spine shape to visually tell the user how his/her spine looks like now. And when the sitting pose is unhealthy that makes the spine under pressure, the device will change color to red as an reminder.

User Flow

Mock Up

The light of the desktop installation will change color from red to green according to the process of the user’s plan. It will also give notifications through its color for people to avoid unhealthy sitting and working habits.
The wearable device can record the real time status of the user’s spine and update it to the app.

With the two devices and the app, we can monitor our spine status and health in an easy way, and build up a better working schedule as well as customized exercise plan.