Body-worn IMU array reveals effects of load on performance in an outdoor obstacle course.

ABSTRACT: This study introduces a new method to understand how added load affects human performance across a broad range of athletic tasks (ten obstacles) embedded in an outdoor obstacle course. The method employs an array of wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) to wirelessly record the movements of major body segments to derive obstacle-specific metrics of performance. The effects of load are demonstrated on (N = 22) participants who each complete the obstacle course under four conditions including unloaded (twice) and with loads of 15% and 30% of their body weight (a total of 88 trials across the group of participants). The IMU-derived performance metrics reveal marked degradations in performance with increasing load across eight of the ten obstacles. Overall, this study demonstrates the sig

SUBMITTER: Vitali RV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6428270 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature