This section focuses on the use of BACK-TRACKTM for rehabilitation.

These individuals will not be part of the normal BACK-TRACKTM System of prevention but sit alongside this in a RTW surveillance process.

BACK-TRACKTM monitors the degree and duration of stoop. These are accepted risk factors for almost all forms of back injury. When used in the conventional BACK-TRACKTM System (prevention), the device settings are set at a default value, i.e. the device alerts the wearer when they exceed a pre-programmed stoop angle or if they are at a slight angle for a defined period, the device alerts them. These incidents are recorded onto the BACK-TRACKTM for subsequent upload to the BACK-TRACKTM database.

For rehabilitation, these default values may not be appropriate. Therefore, the Occupational Health Professional is able to set these threshold alert values appropriate to the Users requirements. For example, someone returning to work with a moderate back pain will have threshold values set to alert them even at slight stoop angles. The device will record when these thresholds are exceeded and the OH Professional will be able to review the recorded data and discuss it with the individual.

With time - say four weeks, the individual and OH Professional may decide that the threshold settings should be amended or left as they are for a further period. As the individual's condition improves, the threshold settings are gradually amended until they reach the default values. At this point, the individual may come off the RTW register and back in to the normal prevention system.

The device has two programmable threshold points, one to detect a slight angle of forward flexion and one to detect a more extreme level of forward flexion.

The first threshold is referred to as the Posture (Leaning) Threshold, and the second is referred to as the Stooping Threshold.

If an individual exceeds the first threshold, there lower back muscles will be in tension. If they stay in this position for an extended period the fatigue loading will cause muscle strain. If they do this repeatedly, over many years, damage will probably occur. BACK-TRACKTM detects when they are in this position (i.e. exceeding the first threshold). If they stay in this position for X seconds, the device will vibrate to remind them to rest their back muscles and perhaps find an alternative way to perform the task. This period X, may be determined by the OH Professional. The default value is 15 seconds. The default angle is 30 degrees, (programmable as necessary for those returning to work).

The second threshold (Stooping Threshold) may also have the angle and delay programmed as required, however, the delay is typically set to 0 secs as there is not an acceptable period of time where an individual will be in an extreme stoop position of forward flexion (in most situations). The default angle is set at 50 degrees.

The BACK-TRACKTM System has a facility to record all actions and notes relating to the individual. These are stored on a database and can be used as appropriate for reference in the future. (The Occupational Health RTW functions have separate access for the OH Professional only and are not available to other users within the organisation).