Sensor location influences the associations between IMU and motion capture measurements of impact landing in healthy male and female runners at multiple running speeds

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the relationships between inertial measurement unit (IMU) acceleration at multiple body locations and 3D motion capture impact landing measures in runners. Thirty healthy runners ran on an instrumented treadmill at five running speeds (9–17 km/h) during 3D motion capture. Axial and resultant acceleration were collected from IMUs at the distal and proximal tibia, distal femur and sacrum. Relationships between peak acceleration from each IMU location and patellofemoral joint (PFJ) peak force and loading rate, impact peak and instantaneous vertical loading rate (IVLR) were investigated using linear mixed models. Acceleration was positively related to IVLR at all lower limb locations (p < 0.01). Models predicted a 1.9–3.2 g peak acceleration change at the tibia and distal femur, corresponding with a 10% IVLR change. Impact peak was positively related to acceleration at the distal femur only (p < 0.01). PFJ peak force was positively related to acceleration at the distal (p = 0.03) and proximal tibia (p = 0.03). PFJ loading rate was positively related to the tibia and femur acceleration in males only (p < 0.01). These findings suggest multiple IMU lower limb locations are viable for measuring peak acceleration during running as a meaningful indicator of IVLR.

KEYWORDS:

• Running
• biomechanics
• gait analysis
• ground reaction force
• inertial measurement unit

Disclosure statement

Jason Bonacci declares no competing interest relevant to the content of this review. Eoin Doyle, Tim Doyle, and Joel Fuller have contributed to research projects evaluating the effects of different running shoes on running biomechanics, performance, and physiology; those projects received financial and resource support from footwear companies. No companies played any role in the present study’s design, conduct, or interpretation.

Data availability statement

Data are available on request from the authors. The data supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request, by emailing Eoin Doyle ([email protected]).

Additional information

Funding

Eoin Doyle is a holder of a Research Excellence Scholarship from Macquarie University.