Monitoring Kinematic Changes With Fatigue in Running Using Body-Worn Sensors

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate monitoring of kinematic changes evoked by fatigue in running using wearable technology. Movement data were recorded with ETHOS devices. ETHOS is the ETH Orientation Sensor, a customized inertial measurement unit for unconstrained monitoring of human movement. We perform two real-world experiments, in which 21 runners of different skill levels participated. The real-world experiments capture two exhausting 45-min runs: one on a treadmill and one on a conventional outdoor track. We describe and evaluate algorithms to extract kinematic parameters from the sensor data. We identified parameters that change with fatigue for all runners, ones that change for runners of distinct skill levels, and ones that are dependent on an individual's running technique. Overall, we found that observations from treadmill running are not always generalizable to outdoor running. We, thus, argue for using wearable technology to provide athletes and trainers with continuous, quantitative objective measurements of running technique. These could be used to further gain insight into the complex relationship of running kinematics, injury risk, fatigue, and running economy.

Method analysis of accelerometers and gyroscopes in running gait: A systematic review

“…Le Bris et al 31 investigated the effect of fatigue on middle distance runner's stride patterns using the Locometrix system (Locometrix™, Centaure Metrix, France) located on the lower back. While they looked at stride regularity (similarity of cranial-caudal acceleration over successive strides) and stride symmetry (similarity of cranial-caudal acceleration over left and right strides) through autocorrelation, these variables are similar to those found by papers looking at vertical acceleration 5,10,14,22,23,32 .…”

“…By using the above methods previous research has identified symmetry in running gait 5 , examined the validity of accelerometers in assessing vertical parameters 5,10,14 and shown that there is little difference between vertical acceleration in anatomical and prosthetic strides 32 . Previous studies have also found conflicting results as to levels of vertical oscillation, dependent on running ability 22,23 .…”

“…Mercer et al 34 reported that when the subject was standing the axis of the accelerometer was aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tibia however with any manipulation of stride length, as can happen in fatiguing long distance running, the axis alignment became distorted. Although previous research has stated that this misalignment leads to minimal differences in acceleration Abt et al 1 Bergamini et al 17 Butler et al 24 Channells et al 12 Clansey et al 25 Clansey and Hanlon 26 Clark et al 27 Crowell et al 28 Derrick et al 29 Gullstrand et al 10 Laughton et al 30 Le Bris et al 31 Lee et al 32 Lee et al 5 McGregor et al 33 Mercer et al 34 Mercer et al 35 Mercer et al 36 Milner et al 37 Patterson et al 38 Stohrmann et al 22 Stohrmann et al 23 Tan et al 14 power spectral density (PSD) using a previously published method 44 . Using the aforementioned methods tibial acceleration has been successfully identified to be reduced in high arched runners when running in cushion trainers shoes compared to motion control shoes 24 and also decrease when provided as visual feedback to those running on treadmills 28 .…”

“…Their suggestion for more complex sensors to be used to avoid this is supported by Lee et al 5 as they used a triaxial accelerometer and their data did not suffer from this orientation alteration and therefore had small typical error (1.84 m/s 2 ). Of the studies which chose to analyse vertical displacement as opposed to acceleration 10,22,23 all studies double integrated the vertical acceleration component derived at the hip/sacrum. By using the above methods previous research has identified symmetry in running gait 5 , examined the validity of accelerometers in assessing vertical parameters 5,10,14 and shown that there is little difference between vertical acceleration in anatomical and prosthetic strides 32 .…”

Which Method Detects Foot Strike in Rearfoot and Forefoot Runners Accurately when Using an Inertial Measurement Unit?

“…Furthermore, these sensors offer the advantages of collecting multiple consecutive gait cycles and eliminate the issue of targeting. Numerous authors have already used MEMS to detect FS in a variety of conditions [8,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Nevertheless, just one study was found which investigated the accuracy of MEMS for detecting FS during running by comparing those data to a synchronized force plate signal [21].…”