A wearable device having feedback characteristics including a compliant
article arranged to extend over an anatomical portion of a wearer and for
providing a user with information regarding range of motion parameters of
a joint and/or to condition users to maintain proper joint orientations.
Sensors provided with the wearable device detect the orientation of the
joint and send signals to a processor for analysis. When the processor
determines that the joint is outside of predefined range of motion
parameters or in an unsafe or potentially injurious configuration, a
feedback or response mechanism is activated to alert the user to such a
condition or to provide substantially rigid structural support to the
joint. The sensors, processor, and feedback mechanisms can be provided in
a monitoring and control package along a side of the compliant article.