The nursing profession is one of the most physically demanding occupations there is. Day after day, nursing staff are exposed to physical strain that can lead to long-term health problems if they adopt incorrect postures. The consequences are not only serious for those affected, but also contribute significantly to sickness-related absences in an already highly stressful profession.

To counteract these developments, early awareness of ergonomically correct working practices is necessary – ideally already during training. This is exactly where the ‘PostureCare’ project comes in with an innovative, practical training approach.

A system that thinks for itself

PostureCare has a clear goal: to develop an interactive training system that recognises harmful postures in nursing practice at an early stage, provides feedback and thus prevents them. The system is to be used specifically in the training and further education of nursing staff in order to promote ergonomically correct working practices in the long term.

What makes it special is that PostureCare uses an intelligent combination of mixed reality technology and sensor-based biofeedback, combining realistic training with scientific precision.

Technology in the service of health

• Mixed reality makes it possible: Care procedures with high stress potential are simulated realistically in a virtual training environment. Compared to traditional skills labs (training facilities where specific skills and abilities are taught in a practical manner), this enables location-independent, cost-efficient training with a high degree of immersion – trainees can practise anytime, anywhere.
• Physical props for maximum realism: For particularly stressful acute situations – such as repositioning patients – real objects are used to ensure realistic physical strain. This complements the virtual training with haptic experiences.
• The sensor shirt as a digital coach: During the exercise, posture and spinal strain are recorded in real time via a special sensor shirt. Ergonomically unfavourable movements or poor posture are immediately detected and reported directly to the user – immediate feedback that has a lasting effect.

PostureCare is funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture as part of the transfer projects of the Centre for Digital Innovation Lower Saxony (ZDIN). Project partners are the University of Oldenburg – Department of Assistance Systems and Medical Technology and the company MinkTec from Braunschweig.

PostureCare is a training system that is not only technologically groundbreaking, but also makes a real contribution to the health and working ability of nursing staff. An innovation that shows that digitalisation can and should put people at the centre.