Report

The use of inertial sensors for measuring wheelchair sports activities

The use of innovative technology has become a key feature of research that has improved knowledge and performance levels in wheelchair court sports.

Lead academic:
Professor Vicky Tolfrey
Additional academics:
Barry Mason
Funder:
The Peter Harrison Foundation

The challenge that now faces researchers is to collect scientific data about athletes’ performance in an environment that is most relevant for them.

For wheelchair court sport athletes this means a shift from laboratory based testing towards field based tests wherever possible. Recently an inertial sensor has been developed to help determine the speed profiles of athletes during over-ground propulsion, which this study aimed to validate.

Methods

A wireless inertial sensor was attached to the axle of a sports wheelchair which was tested at incremental speeds (1-6m•s-1) on a motor driven treadmill which had previously been calibrated. The sensor was then assessed for its detection of peak speed during maximal effort sprinting on a wheelchair ergometer compared to high-speed video analysis.

Main findings and applications

  • During incremental testing on the treadmill, systematic bias and random errors never exceeded 0.086 m∙s-1.
  • The sensor was also shown to be reliable with coefficients of variation never exceeding 0.9% CV.
  • During maximal sprinting the sensors provided a reliable representation of peak speed (<1.6% CV.)
  • The inertial sensor tested can be considered an accurate and reliable tool for the assessment of linear wheelchair performance.

Reference

  • Mason BS, Rhodes J, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. (2014). Validity and reliability of an inertial sensor for wheelchair court sports performance. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 30: 326-331. DOI: 10.1123/jab.2013-0148