Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (Mar 2024)

Reliability of Xsens inertial measurement unit in measuring trunk accelerations: a sex-based differences study during incremental treadmill running

  • Unai Miqueleiz,
  • Unai Miqueleiz,
  • Roberto Aguado-Jimenez,
  • Pablo Lecumberri,
  • Ibai Garcia-Tabar,
  • Esteban M. Gorostiaga

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1357353
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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IntroductionInertial measurement units (IMUs) are utilized to measure trunk acceleration variables related to both running performances and rehabilitation purposes. This study examined both the reliability and sex-based differences of these variables during an incremental treadmill running test.MethodsEighteen endurance runners performed a test–retest on different days, and 30 runners (15 females) were recruited to analyze sex-based differences. Mediolateral (ML) and vertical (VT) trunk displacement and root mean square (RMS) accelerations were analyzed at 9, 15, and 21 km·h−1.ResultsNo significant differences were found between test-retests [effect size (ES)<0.50)]. Higher intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were found in the trunk displacement (0.85-0.96) compared to the RMS-based variables (0.71–0.94). Male runners showed greater VT displacement (ES = 0.90–1.0), while female runners displayed greater ML displacement, RMS ML and anteroposterior (AP), and resultant euclidean scalar (RES) (ES = 0.83–1.9).DiscussionThe IMU was found reliable for the analysis of the studied trunk acceleration-based variables. This is the first study that reports different results concerning acceleration (RMS) and trunk displacement variables for a same axis in the analysis of sex-based differences.

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