# Wearable nanocomposite sensor system for diagnosing mechanical sources of low back pain and guiding rehabilitation

> **NIH NIH UH3** · BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $1,233,342

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Back pain has gained the distinction of being the most disabling condition in the world [1-3], affecting 80-90%
of the US population at some point in their lifetime, with 29% of the US population having experienced lower
back pain within the last 3 months. Back and neck pain are the leading cause of missed work days and rank
second only to the common cold as a reason for a visit to the doctor, accounting for approximately 30% of
general practitioner visits. Of particular concern is chronic low back pain (cLBP), which is recurrent and often
non-responsive to conservative treatments.
It has long been recognized that spinal pathology changes the way that we move. Biomechanists, physical
therapists, and surgeons each utilize a variety of tools and techniques to assess and interpret qualitative
movement changes as a window to understanding potential mechanical and neurological sources of low back
pain and as a critical element in their treatment paradigm. However, objectively characterizing and
communicating this information is currently impossible, since clinically feasible (e.g., cost-effective, objective,
and accurate) tools and quantitative benchmarks do not exist.
This proposal addresses the challenge to improve cLBP outcomes through the use of unique, inexpensive,
screen-printable, elastomer-based nano-composite piezoresponsive sensors which will be integrated into a
SPInal Nanosensor Environment (SPINE Sense System) to measure lumbar kinematics and provide an
objective, quantitative platform for diagnosis, monitoring, and follow-up assessment of cLBP.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10375976
- **Project number:** 4UH3AR076723-02
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Anton E. Bowden
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,233,342
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2019-09-26 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10375976

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10375976, Wearable nanocomposite sensor system for diagnosing mechanical sources of low back pain and guiding rehabilitation (4UH3AR076723-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10375976. Licensed CC0.

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