{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T21:48:54Z","timestamp":1767304134254,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,22]],"date-time":"2023-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1695340800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR)","award":["CUP E63C22002040007"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CUP E63C22002040007"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This work proposes an innovative method, based on the use of low-cost infrared thermography (IRT) instrumentation, to assess in real time the effectiveness of scoliosis braces. Establishing the effectiveness of scoliosis braces means deciding whether the pressure exerted by the brace on the patient\u2019s back is adequate for the intended therapeutic purpose. Traditionally, the evaluation of brace effectiveness relies on empirical, qualitative assessments carried out by orthopedists during routine follow-up examinations. Hence, it heavily depends on the expertise of the orthopedists involved. In the state of the art, the only objective methods used to confirm orthopedists\u2019 opinions are based on the evaluation of how scoliosis progresses over time, often exposing people to ionizing radiation. To address these limitations, the method proposed in this work aims to provide a real-time, objective assessment of the effectiveness of scoliosis braces in a non-harmful way. This is achieved by exploiting the thermoelastic effect and correlating temperature changes on the patient\u2019s back with the mechanical pressure exerted by the braces. A system based on this method is implemented and then validated through an experimental study on 21 patients conducted at an accredited orthopedic center. The experimental results demonstrate a classification accuracy slightly below 70% in discriminating between adequate and inadequate pressure, which is an encouraging result for further advancement in view of the clinical use of such systems in orthopedic centers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s23198037","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,24]],"date-time":"2023-09-24T10:48:31Z","timestamp":1695552511000},"page":"8037","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Infrared Thermography for Real-Time Assessment of the Effectiveness of Scoliosis Braces"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6932-6891","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Leopoldo","family":"Angrisani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2792-2131","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Egidio","family":"De Benedetto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1356-5559","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luigi","family":"Duraccio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Polytechnic University of Turin, 10129 Turin, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9307-8340","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabrizio","family":"Lo Regio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy"}]},{"given":"Roberto","family":"Ruggiero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ortopedia Ruggiero SRL, Cardito, 80024 Naples, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7242-701X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Annarita","family":"Tedesco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"875","article-title":"Idiopathic scoliosis","volume":"107","author":"Trobisch","year":"2010","journal-title":"Dtsch. \u00c4rztebl. 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