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Validation of trunk mounted inertial sensors for analysing running biomechanics under field conditions, using synchronously collected foot contact data

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Abstract

The biomechanical evaluation of elite athletes often requires the use of sophisticated laboratory-based equipment that is restrictive, cumbersome, and often unsuitable for use in a training and competition environment. Small, low-mass unobtrusive centre-of-mass triaxial accelerometers can be used to collect data but may not reveal all the information of interest. This validation of centre-of-mass triaxial accelerometry uses previously reported synchronously collected foot-contact information from in-shoe pressure sensors. A qualitative assessment of the system output indicates that the centre-of-mass acceleration provides valuable insight into the use of accelerometers for investigating the biomechanics of, in this case, middle distance runners.

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Notes

  1. Other data collected by the authors indicated that the large spike was due to the transmittal of the initial foot impact up to the trunk mounted accelerometer sensor.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Cooperative Research Centre for micro Technology and the Australian Institute of Sport for funding this research.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to A. J. Wixted.

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Wixted, A.J., Billing, D.C. & James, D.A. Validation of trunk mounted inertial sensors for analysing running biomechanics under field conditions, using synchronously collected foot contact data. Sports Eng 12, 207–212 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-010-0043-2

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