Exploring the Use of a Smart Ring in Measuring Health Parameters in People with Osteoarthritis (Smart-OA)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant health issue in the UK, affecting one in ten adults and causing pain and disability. Despite its prevalence, sleep disruption—a common symptom—is often overlooked, exacerbating pain perception. More studies are drawing an association between pain and sleep. However, they often rely on subjective measures that can overestimate or underestimate this association.
The SMART-OA project aims to change this by using Oura rings to monitor sleep patterns in people with OA, providing a clearer picture of their sleep quality and its impact on their condition. Participants will wear Oura rings for four weeks to gather objective sleep data. This data will be compared with their self-reported sleep quality and quantity using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a validated and standard tool adopted in research.
The potential impact of this research is substantial. The study aims to improve sleep assessment and management in OA by identifying discrepancies between perceived and actual sleep quality and revolutionising sleep research in OA. An affordable and non-invasive instrument to measure sleep in OA will change how sleep is explored in this condition and beyond.
Funding
This study is funded by a pump prime grant by the University of Salford.
Team