Whole-body kinematic adaptations to running on an unstable, irregular, and compliant surface

Reliability of Xsens IMU-Based Lower Extremity Joint Angles during In-Field Running

“…Inclusion criteria were (1) a minimum of one running session per week for at least one year and (2) no disruption of running for more than two weeks in the last six months (e.g., due to lower extremity injury or general overload). This study presents a secondary analysis of data from a previous investigation on the influence of running surface stability on whole-body running kinematics [9]. For this reason, the sample size was guided by an a priori power analysis based on expected effect sizes with respect to the running surface.…”

“…Each participant undertook a series of five testing sessions with inter-session intervals averaging 1.9 ± 1.2 days (range 1-6 days). Each testing session encompassed a 10 min warm-up period with five minutes dedicated to warming up on an asphalt surface and five minutes on a woodchip track surface (see Figure 1 in [9]). Subsequently, kinematic measurements were conducted on each of these surfaces.…”

“…The detailed experimental protocol has been described elsewhere [9]. Briefly, for each testing session, runners wore an Xsens Link suit (Movella Technologies, Enschede, The Netherlands), which includes 17 IMUs distributed on prescribed body segments according to the Xsens Link manual and pre-defined sensor positions for each segment via Velcro stripes and pouches within the suit.…”

“…MATLAB version: 9.14.0 (R2023a), Natick, MA, USA). Individual running gait cycles were identified and segmented based on maxima in the anterior-posterior position of the right foot segment, as described previously [9]. Although this method leads to gait cycles that start slightly before the actual right foot contact, it yields a reliable segmentation approach that should not introduce further error into the analyzed discrete joint angles.…”

“…For example, the Xsens Link system has been applied to study how running kinematics are influenced by unstable surfaces [9], a marathon [10], performance level in trail running [11] or by the cycling-to-running transition in triathletes [12]. Although wearable systems like the Xsens Link offer potentially new insights into running physiology and mechanics, the accurate IMU-based estimation of joint movement is challenging, e.g., due…”