Center of mass velocity comparison using a whole body magnetic inertial measurement unit system and force platforms in well trained sprinters in straight-line and curve sprinting

Benjamin Millot; Paul Blache; Daniel Dinu; Axelle Arnould; Jérémy Jusseaume; Christine Hanon; Jean Slawinski

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.11.002

Center of mass velocity comparison using a whole body magnetic inertial measurement unit system and force platforms in well trained sprinters in straight-line and curve sprinting

Gait Posture. 2023 Jan:99:90-97. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.11.002. Epub 2022 Nov 4.

Authors

Benjamin Millot¹, Paul Blache², Daniel Dinu³, Axelle Arnould⁴, Jérémy Jusseaume⁵, Christine Hanon⁶, Jean Slawinski⁷

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), 11, Avenue du Tremblay, 75012 Paris, France; French Athletics Federation (FFA), 33, Avenue Pierre de Coubertin, 75013 Paris, France. Electronic address: benjamin.millot@insep.fr.
² Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), 11, Avenue du Tremblay, 75012 Paris, France. Electronic address: paulblache91@gmail.com.
³ Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), 11, Avenue du Tremblay, 75012 Paris, France. Electronic address: daniel.dinu@insep.fr.
⁴ Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), 11, Avenue du Tremblay, 75012 Paris, France. Electronic address: aarnould.insep@gmail.com.
⁵ Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), 11, Avenue du Tremblay, 75012 Paris, France. Electronic address: j.jusseaume92@gmail.com.
⁶ French Athletics Federation (FFA), 33, Avenue Pierre de Coubertin, 75013 Paris, France. Electronic address: christine.hanon@athle.fr.
⁷ Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), 11, Avenue du Tremblay, 75012 Paris, France. Electronic address: jean.slawinski@insep.fr.

PMID: 36368241
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.11.002

Abstract

Background: Sprint performance can be characterized through the centre of mass (COM) velocity over time. In-field computation of the COM is key in sprint training.

Research question: To compare the stance-averaged COM velocity computation from a Magneto-Inertial Measurement Units (MIMU) to a reference system: force platforms (FP), over the early acceleration phase in both straight and curve sprinting.

Methods: Nineteen experienced-to-elite track sprinters performed 1 maximal sprint on both the straight and the curve (radius = 41.58 m) in a randomized order. Utilizing a MIMU-based system (Xsens MVN Link) and compared to FP (Kistler), COM velocity was computed with both systems. Averaged stance-by-stance COM velocity over straight-line and curve sprinting following the vertical axis (respectively V_zMIMU and V_zFP) and the norm of the two axes lying on the horizontal plane: x and y, approximately anteroposterior and mediolateral (respectively V_xyMIMU and V_xyFP) over the starting-blocks (SB) and initial acceleration (IA - composed out of the first four stances following the SB) were compared using mean bias, 95 % limits of agreements and Pearson's correlation coefficients.

Results: 148 stances were analyzed. V_xyMIMU mean bias was comprised between 0.26 % and 2.03 % (expressed in % with respect to the FP) for SB, 5.63 % and 7.29 % over IA respectively on the straight and the curve. Pearson's correlation coefficients ranged between 0.943 and 0.990 for V_xy, 0.423 and 0.938 for V_z. On the other hand, V_zMIMU mean bias ranged between 2.33 % and 4.69 % for SB, between 1.44 % and 19.95 % over IA respectively on the straight and the curve SIGNIFICANCE: The present findings suggest that the MIMU-based system tested slightly underestimated V_xyMIMU, though within narrow limits which supports its utilization. On the other hand, V_zMIMU computation in sprint running is not fully mature yet. Therefore, this MIMU-based system represents an interesting device for in-fieldV_xyMIMU computation either for straight-line and curve sprinting.

Keywords: Acceleration; Curve sprinting; Force platforms; Magneto-Inertial Measurement Units; Sprint running.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acceleration
Athletic Performance*
Biomechanical Phenomena
Humans
Magnetic Phenomena
Running*