Estimating Stair Running Performance Using Inertial Sensors

Lauro V Ojeda; Antonia M Zaferiou; Stephen M Cain; Rachel V Vitali; Steven P Davidson; Leia A Stirling; Noel C Perkins

doi:10.3390/s17112647

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Estimating Stair Running Performance Using Inertial Sensors

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Estimating Stair Running Performance Using Inertial Sensors

Lauro V Ojeda, Antonia M Zaferiou, Stephen M Cain, Rachel V Vitali, Steven P Davidson, Leia A Stirling and Noel C Perkins

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.17(11), p.2647

11/17/2017

DOI: 10.3390/s17112647

PMCID: PMC5713493

PMID: 29149063

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Abstract

Stair running, both ascending and descending, is a challenging aerobic exercise that many athletes, recreational runners, and soldiers perform during training. Studying biomechanics of stair running over multiple steps has been limited by the practical challenges presented while using optical-based motion tracking systems. We propose using foot-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) as a solution as they enable unrestricted motion capture in any environment and without need for external references. In particular, this paper presents methods for estimating foot velocity and trajectory during stair running using foot-mounted IMUs. Computational methods leverage the stationary periods occurring during the stance phase and known stair geometry to estimate foot orientation and trajectory, ultimately used to calculate stride metrics. These calculations, applied to human participant stair running data, reveal performance trends through timing, trajectory, energy, and force stride metrics. We present the results of our analysis of experimental data collected on eleven subjects. Overall, we determine that for either ascending or descending, the stance time is the strongest predictor of speed as shown by its high correlation with stride time.

stair running

wearable sensors

motion tracking

human performance

inertial measurement units

Details

Title: Subtitle: Estimating Stair Running Performance Using Inertial Sensors
Creators: Lauro V Ojeda - University of Michigan
Antonia M Zaferiou - Rush University Medical Center
Stephen M Cain - University of Michigan
Rachel V Vitali - University of Michigan
Steven P Davidson - University of Michigan
Leia A Stirling - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Noel C Perkins - University of Michigan
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.17(11), p.2647
DOI: 10.3390/s17112647
PMID: 29149063
PMCID: PMC5713493
NLM abbreviation: Sensors (Basel)
ISSN: 1424-8220
eISSN: 1424-8220
Language: English
Date published: 11/17/2017
Academic Unit: Mechanical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984195067202771

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