Inertial Sensor-Based Motion Tracking in Football with Movement Intensity Quantification
Erik Wilmes,
Cornelis J. de Ruiter,
Bram J. C. Bastiaansen,
Jasper F. J. A. van Zon,
Riemer J. K. Vegter,
Michel S. Brink,
Edwin A. Goedhart,
Koen A. P. M. Lemmink,
Geert J. P. Savelsbergh
Affiliations
Erik Wilmes
Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cornelis J. de Ruiter
Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Bram J. C. Bastiaansen
Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
Jasper F. J. A. van Zon
Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Riemer J. K. Vegter
Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
Michel S. Brink
Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
Edwin A. Goedhart
FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Royal Netherlands Football Association, 3707HX Zeist, The Netherlands
Koen A. P. M. Lemmink
Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands
Geert J. P. Savelsbergh
Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Inertial sensor-based measurements of lower body kinematics in football players may improve physical load estimates during training sessions and matches. However, the validity of inertial-based motion analysis systems is specific to both the type of movement and the intensity at which movements are executed. Importantly, such a system should be relatively simple, so it can easily be used in daily practice. This paper introduces an easy-to-use inertial-based motion analysis system and evaluates its validity using an optoelectronic motion analysis system as a gold standard. The system was validated in 11 football players for six different football specific movements that were executed at low, medium, and maximal intensity. Across all movements and intensities, the root mean square differences (means ± SD) for knee and hip flexion/extension angles were 5.3° ± 3.4° and 8.0° ± 3.5°, respectively, illustrating good validity with the gold standard. In addition, mean absolute flexion/extension angular velocities significantly differed between the three movement intensities. These results show the potential to use the inertial based motion analysis system in football practice to obtain lower body kinematics and to quantify movement intensity, which both may improve currently used physical load estimates of the players.
