10:20   Athlete feedback systems
Chair: Hugo Espinosa
10:20
20 mins 		DEVELOPEMENT OF A WEARABLE LIFE-FEEDBACK SYSTEM TO SUPPORT PARTIAL WEIGHT-BEARING WHILE TRAINING LOWER EXTREMITIES
Andrés Igor Tkachenko Bril, Veronika David, Matthias Scherer, Patricia Kafka, Anton Sabo
Abstract: Lower-body physical rehabilitation therapies and technologies are inevitably linked to the sports world. Methods and devices that allow quicker rehabilitation processes are therefore very valuable to athletes. Mobile monitoring devices permit patients to get feedback without the need to visit a physical therapist. This improves both the duration and the cost of the whole procedure. Partial weight-bearing is a common therapy for patients after lower-body injuries. It consists of instructions to bear a certain amount of weight on the operated extremity during ambulation processes. This method offers a balanced approach which promotes bone growth and healing while protecting the injury site and surgical constructions around it, providing the patient with an optimized rehabilitation process and allows a quicker reestablishment of normal gait. However, most studies determine that a crucial aspect of the limited weight-bearing method is giving the patients a possibility to quantify the asymmetrical loading outside of a clinical environment, as for the most part the rehabilitation process occurs after discharge from the clinic and patients have problems to reproduce weight-bearing patterns even after immediate retry. A solution that covers this need was in the scope of this project. Using Android Studio a smartphone application was developed, which provides the user with an audible and haptic biofeedback alarm when a predefined threshold is reached by the pressure sensors’ data of an instrumented insole called eSHOE. This insole consists of four pressure sensors, an inertial measurement unit and a microcontroller. The data transmission was realized via Bluetooth. Too meet expectations due to usability, the developed system is highly portable and non-intrusive, cheap and uncomplicated to use. Apart of the real-time biofeedback it also permits the user to record and analyze gait processes easily. The system could be used to teach injured athletes the partial weight bearing method and provide them real time biofeedback after discharge. The preliminary results show that the threshold alarm functionality works according to the stipulations. However, clinical research has yet to be conducted in order to validate the developed biofeedback system.
10:40
20 mins 		FROM PROBLEM TO SOLUTION: A THREE-STEP APPROACH TO DESIGN A PERSONALIZED SMARTPHONE APPLICATION FOR RECREATIONAL RUNNERS
Steven Vos, Mark Janssen, Jos Goudsmit, Coen Lauwerijssen, Aarnout Brombacher
Abstract: Objective Recent developments have made it possible to study the physical aspects of human behavior on a 24/7 basis using low-cost technology. This has resulted in a wide range of mobile phone applications that have the ability to track behaviours over time in the daily urban environment (Vos et al, 2015). Though, apps can be considered as interesting platforms for (e-)coaching (Kranz et al., 2013), most of the fitness and health related apps provide feedback on performance, while tailored guidance is limited (Middelweerd et al., 2014). Moreover, the underlying data and design propositions are mainly based upon concepts directly derived from elite and competitive sports. With regard to individual recreational runners substantial efforts, in terms of guidance, are necessary for sustainable sport participation (Vos et al, 2015). This paper aims to establish that using multidisciplinary iterations and multi-methods is a suitable approach for developing personalized running related mobile phone applications that provide both feedback and coaching. Methods A three-step approach was used. First, determinants of runners (n>12.500) were derived via a heterodox approach. In the second step, in several multidisciplinary iterations essential features for app development were distinguished. The running-application was co-created with different experts and tailored to the needs of runners. Finally the application was validated in context and qualitative feedback on the system was collected in user studies. Results and conclusion As a result of the co-creation, INSPIRUN was developed. This app helps runners to start or improve running in a safe, healthy and fun way by giving personalized training schedules that fits their own runners profile. The GPS-sensor of the mobile phone is used to constantly assess speed and is combined with a heart rate monitor. During running intuitive feedback on progress to the personalized schedule is given. Based on body feedback (heart rate), GPS-data, perception of the intensity of the training (RPE-score) and the selected running profile, the training scheme for the next training session will be adjusted. Results of the user studies reveal that the personalized approach is highly appreciated. Detailed results will be presented at the conference. References Kranz, M., Möllerb, A., Hammerla, N., Diewald, S., Plötz, T., Olivier, P. & Roalter, L. (2013). The mobile fitness coach: Towards individualized skill assessment using personalized mobile devices. Pervasive and Mobile Computing, 9(2), 203-215. Middelweerd, A., Mollee, J.S., van der Wal, N., Brug, J. & te Velde, S.J. (2014). Apps to promote physical activity among adults: a review and content analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutricion and Physical Activity, 11(97), doi:10.1186/s12966-014-0097-9. Vos S., Janssen, M., Goudsmit, J., Bovens, J., & Lauwerijssen, C. (2015). Creating light and personalised running experiences: an app development Study. European Sport Management Conference 2015, September 9-12, Dublin (Ireland).
11:00
20 mins 		BIOFEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR NOVICE SNOWBOARDING
Benjamin Moeyersons, Franz Fuss
Abstract: Biofeedback system for novice snowboarding The sport of snowboarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, there is an estimated 9.8 million users on the slopes worldwide annually. Consequently the sport of snowboarding has a high number of beginner participants (44 %) and first time participants (14 %) on the slopes each year. Beginner snowboarders use a rotational movement as turning mechanism to perform a change of edge and consequential a turn. This movement is used in the initiation of the turn to get the board into the slope line. Hereby is expected a weight transfer to the front foot to enable the board to get into the slope line. One of the most common problems for beginners is that they have a weight transfer to their back foot. It is essential for beginners to receive feedback when developing a new motor skill. The instructors can give out instructions before commencing their descent into the slope and delayed feedback after the run. It is not always possible to give real time feedback to beginners. The feedback provided by instructors is, in many sports, a perception of what they see. This form of feedback is subjective as it relies heavily on the skill level of the instructor as well as their ability to accurately portray what they are seeing to the athletes. The aim of this project is to design a real-time biofeedback system for beginners which includes an electrical circuit that analyzes the pressure in the feet of the snowboarder and alerts the user when there is more pressure on the back foot in comparison to the front foot. There are several stages involved in such a project including the initial design phase, development of sensors, software development and testing of the system. The use of a sensor system to provide real-time biofeedback would help the instructor provide more objective analysis. Upon the completion of the system, it will be tested to ascertain the efficacy of real-time biofeedback on beginner snowboarders.