Body-worn IMU array reveals effects of load on performance in an outdoor obstacle course

Rachel V Vitali; Stephen M Cain; Lauro V Ojeda; Michael V Potter; Antonia M Zaferiou; Steven P Davidson; Megan E Coyne; Clifford L Hancock; Alyssa Mendoza; Leia A Stirling; Noel C Perkins

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0214008

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Body-worn IMU array reveals effects of load on performance in an outdoor obstacle course

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Body-worn IMU array reveals effects of load on performance in an outdoor obstacle course

Rachel V Vitali, Stephen M Cain, Lauro V Ojeda, Michael V Potter, Antonia M Zaferiou, Steven P Davidson, Megan E Coyne, Clifford L Hancock, Alyssa Mendoza, Leia A Stirling, …

PloS one, Vol.14(3), pp.e0214008-e0214008

2019

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214008

PMCID: PMC6428270

PMID: 30897123

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Abstract

This study introduces a new method to understand how added load affects human performance across a broad range of athletic tasks (ten obstacles) embedded in an outdoor obstacle course. The method employs an array of wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) to wirelessly record the movements of major body segments to derive obstacle-specific metrics of performance. The effects of load are demonstrated on (N = 22) participants who each complete the obstacle course under four conditions including unloaded (twice) and with loads of 15% and 30% of their body weight (a total of 88 trials across the group of participants). The IMU-derived performance metrics reveal marked degradations in performance with increasing load across eight of the ten obstacles. Overall, this study demonstrates the significant potential in using this wearable technology to evaluate human performance across multiple tasks and, simultaneously, the adverse effects of body-borne loads on performance. The study addresses a major need of military organizations worldwide that frequently employ standardized obstacle courses to understand how added loads influence warfighter performance. Importantly, the findings and conclusions drawn from IMU data would not be possible using traditional timing metrics used to evaluate task performance.

Adolescent

Athletic Performance - physiology

Biomechanical Phenomena

Female

Humans

Male

Movement - physiology

Postural Balance - physiology

Running - physiology

Task Performance and Analysis

Wearable Electronic Devices

Weight-Bearing - physiology

Wireless Technology - instrumentation

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Body-worn IMU array reveals effects of load on performance in an outdoor obstacle course
Creators: Rachel V Vitali - University of Michigan
Stephen M Cain - University of Michigan
Lauro V Ojeda - University of Michigan
Michael V Potter - University of Michigan
Antonia M Zaferiou - Rush University Medical Center
Steven P Davidson - University of Michigan
Megan E Coyne - Combat Capabilities Development Command-Soldier Center, Natick, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Clifford L Hancock - Combat Capabilities Development Command-Soldier Center, Natick, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Alyssa Mendoza - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Leia A Stirling - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Noel C Perkins - University of Michigan
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PloS one, Vol.14(3), pp.e0214008-e0214008
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214008
PMID: 30897123
PMCID: PMC6428270
NLM abbreviation: PLoS One
ISSN: 1932-6203
eISSN: 1932-6203
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100006751, name: U.S. Army, award: W911QY-15-C-0053
Language: English
Date published: 2019
Academic Unit: Mechanical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984195067002771

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