A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Wearable Satellite System Technology for Linear Sprint Profiling: Technological Innovations and Practical Applications.

ABSTRACT: Cormier, P, Meylan, C, Agar-Newman, D, Geneau, D, Epp-Stobbe, A, Lenetsky, S, and Klimstra, M. A systematic review and meta-analysis of wearable satellite system technology for linear sprint profiling: technological innovations and practical applications. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): 405-418, 2024-An emerging and promising practice is the use of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology to profile team-sports athletes in training and competition. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the literature regarding satellite system sensor usage for sprint modeling and to consolidate the findings to evaluate its validity and reliability. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, an electronic search of the databases, PubMed and SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), was conducted. Concurrent validity and reliability studies were considered, and 16 studies were retained for the review from the initial 1,485 studies identified. The effects on outcomes were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs, Cohen's d ) for each outcome (i.e., maximal sprint speed [MSS], the acceleration constant [τ], maximal theoretical velocity [ V0 ], relative force [ F0 ], and relative power [P max ]). Effect magnitudes represented the SMD between GNSS-derived and criterion-derived (i.e., radar and laser) and resulted in the following estimates: small for MSS ( d = 0.22, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.42), τ ( d = -0.18, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.23), V0 ( d = 0.14, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.36), relative F0 ( d = 0.15, 95% CI -0.25 to 0.55), and relative P max ( d = 0.21, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.58). No publication bias was identified in meta-analyzed studies and moderator analysis revealed that several factors (sampling rate and sensor manufacturer) influenced the results. Heterogeneity between studies was considered moderate to high. This highlighted the differences between studies in sensor technology differences (i.e., sampling rate, sensor fusion, and satellite network acquisition), processing techniques, criterion technology used, sprint protocols, outcome reporting, and athlete characteristics. These findings may be useful in guiding improvements in sprint modeling using GNSS technology and enable more direct comparisons in future research. Implementation of all-out linear sprint efforts with GNSS technology can be integrated into sport-specific sessions for sprint modeling when robust and consistent data processing protocols are performed, which has important implications for fatigue monitoring, program design, systematic testing, and rehabilitation in individual and team sports.

A Simple and Valid Method to Calculate Wheelchair Frame Rotation Using One Wheel-Mounted IMU.

Wheelchair sports have been using Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) to measure mobility metrics during training, testing and competition. Presently, the most suitable solution to calculate wheelchair speed and frame rotation is the 3IMU method as there is uncertainty about the ability of a one wheel-mounted IMU (1IMU) approach to calculate wheelchair frame rotational kinematics. A new method for calculating wheelchair frame rotational kinematics using a single wheel-mounted IMU is presented and compared to a criterion measurement using a wheelchair-frame-mounted IMU. Goodness-of-fit statistics demonstrate very strong linear relationships between wheelchair frame angular velocity calculated from the wheel-mounted IMUs and a wheelchair-frame-mounted IMU. Root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and Bland-Altman analysis show very small differences between the wheelchair frame angular velocity calculated from the wheel-mounted IMUs and the wheelchair-frame-mounted IMU. This study has demonstrated a simple and accurate approach to estimating wheelchair frame rotation using one wheel-mounted IMU during an elite wheelchair athlete agility task. Future research is needed to reexamine and compare wheelchair mobility metrics determined using the 3IMU and 1IMU solutions using this new approach.

Wheelchair Rugby Sprint Force-Velocity Modeling Using Inertial Measurement Units and Sport Specific Parameters: A Proof of Concept.

BACKGROUND: Para-sports such as wheelchair rugby have seen increased use of inertial measurement units (IMU) to measure wheelchair mobility. The accessibility and accuracy of IMUs have enabled the quantification of many wheelchair metrics and the ability to further advance analyses such as force-velocity (FV) profiling. However, the FV modeling approach has not been refined to include wheelchair specific parameters. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare wheelchair rugby sprint FV profiles, developed from a wheel-mounted IMU, using current mono-exponential modeling techniques against a dynamic resistive force model with wheelchair specific resistance coefficients. METHODS: Eighteen athletes from a national wheelchair rugby program performed 2 × 45 m all-out sprints on an indoor hardwood court surface. RESULTS: Velocity modelling displayed high agreeability, with an average RMSE of 0.235 ± 0.07 m/s-1 and r2 of 0.946 ± 0.02. Further, the wheelchair specific resistive force model resulted in greater force and power outcomes, better aligning with previously collected measures. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the proof of concept that a wheel-mounted IMU combined with wheelchair-specific FV modelling provided estimates of force and power that better account for the resistive forces encountered by wheelchair rugby athletes.

The Relationship Between Lower-Body Force-Time Variables and Skating Performance in Female Ice Hockey Players.

PURPOSE: Ice hockey is a team invasion sport characterized by repeated high-intensity skating efforts, technical and tactical skill, physical contact, and collisions requiring considerable levels of muscular strength. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between lower-body vertical force-time metrics and skating qualities in subelite female ice hockey players. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort design was employed utilizing 14 athletes (body mass = 66.7 [1.8] kg; height = 171.6 [6.2] cm; age = 21.1 [1.7] y). The relationships between metrics of lower-body strength collected from a drop jump, squat jump, countermovement jump, loaded countermovement jump, and an isometric squat and 4 skating qualities collected from a linear sprint, repeated sprint test, and a multistage aerobic test were evaluated. RESULTS: The regression models revealed a positive relationship between relative peak force in the isometric squat and skating multistage aerobic test performance (r2 = .388; P = .017) and a positive relationship between repeated-sprint ability and eccentric mean force during the loaded countermovement jump (r2 = .595; P = .001). No significant relationships were observed between strength metrics and skating acceleration or maximal velocity. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that skating ability is most affected by relative isometric strength in female ice hockey players. It is recommended that practitioners focus training on tasks that improve relative force output. It is also recommended that isometric relative peak force be used as a monitoring metric for this cohort.