TECHNOLOGY IN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING: ASSESSING BODYWEIGHT SQUAT TECHNIQUE WITH WEARABLE SENSORS
Publication Type:
Refereed Original Article
Abstract:
O’Reilly, MA, Whelan, DF, Ward, TE, Delahunt, E, and Caulfield,
BM. Technology in strength and conditioning: assessing
bodyweight squat technique with wearable sensors. J Strength
Cond Res 31(8): 2303–2312, 2017—Strength and conditioning
(S&C) coaches offer expert guidance to help those they
work with achieve their personal fitness goals. However, it is
not always practical to operate under the direct supervision of
an S&C coach and consequently individuals are often left training
without expert oversight. Recent developments in inertial
measurement units (IMUs) and mobile computing platforms
have allowed for the possibility of unobtrusive motion tracking
systems and the provision of real-time individualized feedback
regarding exercise performance. These systems could enable
S&C coaches to remotely monitor sessions and help individuals
record their workout performance. One aspect of such
technologies is the ability to assess exercise technique and
detect common deviations from acceptable exercise form. In
this study, we investigate this ability in the context of a bodyweight
(BW) squat exercise. Inertial measurement units were
positioned on the lumbar spine, thighs, and shanks of 77
healthy participants. Participants completed repetitions of
BW squats with acceptable form and 5 common deviations
from acceptable BW squatting technique. Descriptive features
were extracted from the IMU signals for each BW squat repetition,
and these were used to train a technique classifier.
Acceptable or aberrant BW squat technique can be detected
with 98% accuracy, 96% sensitivity, and 99% specificity when
using features derived from all 5 IMUs. A single IMU system
can also distinguish between acceptable and aberrant BW
squat biomechanics with excellent accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Detecting exact deviations from acceptable BW
squatting technique can be achieved with 80% accuracy using
a 5 IMU system and 72% accuracy when using a single IMU
positioned on the right shank. These results suggest that IMUbased
systems can distinguish between acceptable and aberrant
BW squat technique with excellent accuracy with a single
IMU system. Identification of exact deviations is also possible
but multi-IMU systems outperform single IMU systems
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):
10.1519/JSC.0000000000001957
Publication Status:
Published
Publication Date:
01/08/2017
Journal:
Journal of strength and conditioning research 2017
Research Group:
Institution:
National University of Ireland, Dublin (UCD)
Open access repository:
No
Publication document: