@article {1185741, title = {Stretchable Optical Fibers: Threads for Strain-Sensitive Textiles}, journal = {Advanced Materials Technologies}, volume = {2}, number = {9}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Soft, stretchable, sewable, and strain-sensitive optical fibers are reported. Intrinsically stretchable optical waveguides capable of \>100\% strain are formed by coating a commercially available elastic urethane fiber ({\textquotedblleft}Stretch Magic{\textquotedblright}) with a silicone cladding having a lower refractive index. These 1{\textendash}2 mm diameter fibers can be attached to textiles using a sewing machine. Because the attaching threads create microbends in the fiber, the sewn fibers are prestrained for monotonic intensity-versus-strain behavior. Installed in a stretchable piece of athletic tape, they detect strains originating from changing muscle shapes during weight-bearing activity.}, author = {Cindy K. Harnett and Huichan Zhao and Robert F. Shepherd} }