Development and testing of a stitched stretch sensor with the potential to measure human movement

Abstract

Human movement in health sciences is typically measured using motion capture laboratory equipment, but this method has inherent limitations including cost, specialized knowledge requirements, and inability to measure activity in natural settings. This study presents a novel textile-based stretch sensor with potential for use for measurement of human movement in smart clothing. The sensor is composed of silver-plated thread stitched into a textile substrate. Multiple samples varying in thread type, length, stitch geometry, and textile substrate were systematically fabricated and tested. Elongation and recovery testing revealed the optimal sensor configuration for providing the largest and most repeatable change in resistance. Proper placement of these sensors in clothing may allow for a variety of applications, including kinematic measurement, activity monitoring, movement impairment detection, activity feedback, or control of environmental and assistive technologies.