A Minimal Sensor Inertial Measurement Unit System Is Replicable and Capable of Estimating Bilateral Lower-Limb Kinematics in a Stationary Bodyweight Squat and a Countermovement Jump

in Journal of Applied Biomechanics

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AuraLea FainBiomechanics, Physical Performance, and Exercise (BioPPEx) Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

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Benjamin HindleFaculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

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Jordan AndersenBiomechanics, Physical Performance, and Exercise (BioPPEx) Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

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Bradley C. NindlNeuromuscular Research Lab/Warrior Performance Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Department of Sports Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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Matthew B. BirdNeuromuscular Research Lab/Warrior Performance Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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Joel T. FullerBiomechanics, Physical Performance, and Exercise (BioPPEx) Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

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Jodie A. WillsBiomechanics, Physical Performance, and Exercise (BioPPEx) Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

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Tim L.A. DoyleBiomechanics, Physical Performance, and Exercise (BioPPEx) Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1227-6835*
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2022-0168
Keywords:
wearables; algorithm development; joint angles
First Published Online:
18 Jan 2023
In Print:
Volume 39: Issue 1
Page Range:
42–53
Restricted access

This study aimed to validate a 7-sensor inertial measurement unit system against optical motion capture to estimate bilateral lower-limb kinematics. Hip, knee, and ankle sagittal plane peak angles and range of motion (ROM) were compared during bodyweight squats and countermovement jumps in 18 participants. In the bodyweight squats, left peak hip flexion (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .51), knee extension (ICC = .68) and ankle plantar flexion (ICC = .55), and hip (ICC = .63) and knee (ICC = .52) ROM had moderate agreement, and right knee ROM had good agreement (ICC = .77). Relatively higher agreement was observed in the countermovement jumps compared to the bodyweight squats, moderate to good agreement in right peak knee flexion (ICC = .73), and right (ICC = .75) and left (ICC = .83) knee ROM. Moderate agreement was observed for right ankle plantar flexion (ICC = .63) and ROM (ICC = .51). Moderate agreement (ICC > .50) was observed in all variables in the left limb except hip extension, knee flexion, and dorsiflexion. In general, there was poor agreement for peak flexion angles, and at least moderate agreement for joint ROM. Future work will aim to optimize methodologies to increase usability and confidence in data interpretation by minimizing variance in system-based differences and may also benefit from expanding planes of movement.

Supplementary Materials

    • Supplementary Figure S1 (PDF 351 KB)
    • Supplementary Figure S2 (PDF 342 KB)
    • Supplementary Table S1 (PDF 180 KB)
    • Supplementary Table S2 (PDF 331 KB)
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