Validity and Reliability of Thoracic-Mounted Inertial Measurement Units to Derive Gait Characteristics During Running

• Benjamin J. Horsley ^[1] ; Paul J. Tofari ^[1] ; Shona L. Halson ^[1] ; Justin G. Kemp ^[1] ; Daniel Chalkley ^[1] ; Michael H. Cole ^[1] ; Rich D. Johnston ^[2] ; Stuart J. Cormack ^[1]
  1. [1] Australian Catholic University

     Australian Catholic University

     Australia

     
  2. [2] Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) Centre, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom
• Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 38, Nº. 2, 2024, págs. 274-282
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Inertial measurement units (IMUs) attached to the tibia or lumbar spine can be used to analyze running gait but, with team-sports, are often contained in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) units worn on the thoracic spine. We assessed the validity and reliability of thoracic-mounted IMUs to derive gait characteristics, including peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRFpeak) and vertical stiffness (Kvert). Sixteen recreationally active subjects performed 40 m run throughs at 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 m[middle dot]s-1. Inertial measurement units were attached to the tibia, lumbar, and thoracic spine, whereas 2 GNSS units were also worn on the thoracic spine. Initial contact (IC) from a validated algorithm was evaluated with F1 score and agreement (mean difference +/- SD) of gait data with the tibia and lumbar spine using nonparametric limits of agreement (LoA). Test-retest error {coefficient of variation, CV (95% confidence interval [CI])} established reliability. Thoracic IMUs detected a nearly perfect proportion (F1 >= 0.95) of IC events compared with tibia and lumbar sites. Step length had the strongest agreement (0 +/- 0.04 m) at 3-4 m[middle dot]s-1, whereas contact time improved from 3 to 4 (-0.028 +/- 0.018 second) to 7-8 m[middle dot]s-1 (-0.004 +/- 0.013 second). All values for Kvert fell within the LoA at 7-8 m[middle dot]s-1. Test-retest error was <=12.8% for all gait characteristics obtained from GNSS units, where Kvert was most reliable at 3-4 m[middle dot]s-1 (6.8% [5.2, 9.6]) and vGRFpeak at 7-8 m[middle dot]s-1 (3.7% [2.5, 5.2]). The thoracic-spine site is suitable to derive gait characteristics, including Kvert, from IMUs within GNSS units, eliminating the need for additional sensors to analyze running gait.