Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.3
3.4
Journals
Sensors
Special Issues
Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise
sensors-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sensors Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2024 | Viewed by 16856

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Andrea Nicolò

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro De Bosis 6, 00135 Rome, Italy
Interests: wearable sensors in sports and exercise; exercise prescription and monitoring in endurance sports; development and validation of training metrics; mechanisms and practical applications underlying the control of breathing during exercise; testing and development of respiratory sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carlo Massaroni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departmental Faculty of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy
Interests: wearable sensors; sensors; physiological monitoring; algorithms for data processing including machine learning; applications of sensors in clinical, occupational, and sports fields
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elena Bergamini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro De Bosis 6, 00135 Rome, Italy
Interests: development and application of methods for the quantification of persons’ motor function; wearable sensors in sports and exercise; clinical gait analysis; wearable technology for clinics and sports applications; motion capture

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of sports and exercise is experiencing an unprecedented influence of technology on training and competition management and assessment, with important implications for training optimization, health promotion, injury prevention, exercise adherence, healthy lifestyle adoption, fan engagement, and fitness industry development. On the other hand, the challenges offered by different sports disciplines make the technology developed for exercise monitoring suitable for a variety of applications outside of the field of sports, thus outlining the broader impact of sports technology on society. Yet, the needs and demands of sports and exercise require high standards for sensor development, data quality assessment, and computing that are too often unmet both in the fields of research and industry. An example is the ever-increasing diffusion of training metrics that are commonly used before undergoing rigorous validation. Hence, technology may not only represent an advantage, but also a threat to the effective and safe prescription of exercise for different populations. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to collect and promote high-quality research facilitating the use of technology as an asset to health and wellbeing promotion through sports and exercise.

Dr. Andrea Nicolò
Dr. Carlo Massaroni
Dr. Elena Bergamini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • development of sensors and technologies for exercise monitoring
  • validation of signals and metrics recorded with wearable sensors during exercise
  • applications of sensor technologies in sports and exercise
  • performance and health assessment
  • training quantification
  • training load validation and assessment
  • training and performance modeling
  • use of biofeedback in sports and exercise
  • use of technology for improving exercise adherence

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 2743 KiB  
Article
Overarm Training Tolerance: A Pilot Study on the Use of Muscle Oxygen Saturation as a Biomarker
by Bhargav Gorti, Connor Stephenson, Maia Sethi, KaiLi Gross, Mikaela Ramos, Dhruv Seshadri and Colin K. Drummond
Sensors 2024, 24(14), 4710; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24144710 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1139
Abstract
Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears occur due to the prolonged exposure and overworking of joint stresses, resulting in decreased strength in the flexion and extension of the elbow. Current rehabilitation approaches for UCL tears involve subjective assessments (pain scales) and objective measures such [...] Read more.
Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears occur due to the prolonged exposure and overworking of joint stresses, resulting in decreased strength in the flexion and extension of the elbow. Current rehabilitation approaches for UCL tears involve subjective assessments (pain scales) and objective measures such as monitoring joint angles and range of motion. The main goal of this study is to find out if using wearable near-infrared spectroscopy technology can help measure digital biomarkers like muscle oxygen levels and heart rate. These measurements could then be applied to athletes who have been injured. Specifically, measuring muscle oxygen levels will help us understand how well the muscles are using oxygen. This can indicate improvements in how the muscles are healing and growing new blood vessels after reconstructive surgery. Previous research studies demonstrated that there remains an unmet clinical need to measure biomarkers to provide continuous, internal data on muscle physiology during the rehabilitation process. This study’s findings can benefit team physicians, sports scientists, athletic trainers, and athletes in the identification of biomarkers to assist in clinical decisions for optimizing training regimens for athletes that perform overarm movements; the research suggests pathways for possible earlier detection, and thus earlier intervention for injury prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 5453 KiB  
Article
Breathing Monitoring in Soccer: Part I—Validity of Commercial Wearable Sensors
by Lorenzo Innocenti, Chiara Romano, Giuseppe Greco, Stefano Nuccio, Alessio Bellini, Federico Mari, Sergio Silvestri, Emiliano Schena, Massimo Sacchetti, Carlo Massaroni and Andrea Nicolò
Sensors 2024, 24(14), 4571; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24144571 - 15 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1181
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that respiratory frequency (fR) is a valid marker of effort during high-intensity exercise, including sports of an intermittent nature, like soccer. However, very few attempts have been made so far to monitor fR in soccer with [...] Read more.
Growing evidence suggests that respiratory frequency (fR) is a valid marker of effort during high-intensity exercise, including sports of an intermittent nature, like soccer. However, very few attempts have been made so far to monitor fR in soccer with unobtrusive devices. This study assessed the validity of three strain-based commercial wearable devices measuring fR during soccer-specific movements. On two separate visits to the soccer pitch, 15 players performed a 30 min validation protocol wearing either a ComfTech® (CT) vest or a BioharnessTM (BH) 3.0 strap and a Tyme WearTM (TW) vest. fR was extracted from the respiratory waveform of the three commercial devices with custom-made algorithms and compared with that recorded with a reference face mask. The fR time course of the commercial devices generally resembled that of the reference system. The mean absolute percentage error was, on average, 7.03% for CT, 8.65% for TW, and 14.60% for BH for the breath-by-breath comparison and 1.85% for CT, 3.27% for TW, and 7.30% for BH when comparison with the reference system was made in 30 s windows. Despite the challenging measurement scenario, our findings show that some of the currently available wearable sensors are indeed suitable to unobtrusively measure fR in soccer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 5247 KiB  
Article
Effects of the Flying Start on Estimated Short Sprint Profiles Using Timing Gates
by Mladen Jovanović, Dimitrije Cabarkapa, Håkan Andersson, Dora Nagy, Nenad Trunic, Vladimir Bankovic, Aleksandar Zivkovic, Richard Repasi, Sandor Safar and Laszlo Ratgeber
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2894; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092894 - 1 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1499
Abstract
Short sprints are predominantly assessed using timing gates and analyzed through parameters of the mono-exponential equation, including estimated maximal sprinting speed (MSS) and relative acceleration (TAU), derived maximum acceleration (MAC), and relative propulsive maximal power [...] Read more.
Short sprints are predominantly assessed using timing gates and analyzed through parameters of the mono-exponential equation, including estimated maximal sprinting speed (MSS) and relative acceleration (TAU), derived maximum acceleration (MAC), and relative propulsive maximal power (PMAX), further referred to as the No Correction model. However, the frequently recommended flying start technique introduces a bias during parameter estimation. To correct this, two additional models (Estimated TC and Estimated FD) were proposed. To estimate model precision and sensitivity to detect the change, 31 basketball players executed multiple 30 m sprints. Athlete performance was simultaneously measured by a laser gun and timing gates positioned at 5, 10, 20, and 30 m. Short sprint parameters were estimated using a laser gun, representing the criterion measure, and five different timing gate models, representing the practical measures. Only the MSS parameter demonstrated a high agreement between the laser gun and timing gate models, using the percent mean absolute difference (%MAD) estimator (%MAD < 10%). The MSS parameter also showed the highest sensitivity, using the minimum detectable change estimator (%MDC95), with an estimated %MDC95 < 17%. Interestingly, sensitivity was the highest for the No Correction model (%MDC95 < 7%). All other parameters and models demonstrated an unsatisfying level of sensitivity. Thus, sports practitioners should be cautious when using timing gates to estimate maximum acceleration indices and changes in their respective levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1327 KiB  
Communication
Validity and Reliability of Polar Team Pro and Playermaker for Estimating Running Distance and Speed in Indoor and Outdoor Conditions
by Simen Sandmæl, Roland van den Tillaar and Terje Dalen
Sensors 2023, 23(19), 8251; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23198251 - 5 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2169
Abstract
Although global positioning systems and inertial measurement unit systems are often used to quantify physical variables in training, both types of systems need to be compared, considering their frequent use in measuring physical loads. Thus, the purpose of our study was to test [...] Read more.
Although global positioning systems and inertial measurement unit systems are often used to quantify physical variables in training, both types of systems need to be compared, considering their frequent use in measuring physical loads. Thus, the purpose of our study was to test the reliability and validity of speed and distance run measurements at different intensities in indoor and outdoor conditions made by Polar Team Pro and Playermaker. Four participants (age = 30.0 ± 5.1 years, body mass = 76.3 ± 5.3 kg, height = 1.79 ± 0.09 m), each wearing three Polar Team Pro and two Playermaker sensors, performed 100 m runs with different prescribed intensities (i.e., criterion measure) varying from 8 to 24 km h−1, in a straight line and/or rectangle under indoor and outdoor conditions. Both systems underestimated total distance; Playermaker underestimated speed, the extent of which increased as speed increased, while Polar Team Pro overestimated mean speed at 8 km h−1 for the straight-line condition. No differences emerged in mean speed estimated by Polar Team Pro at any intensities other than 20 km h−1, which was underestimated by 2%. The reliability of the sensors was good, given a coefficient of variation (CV) of <2% for all conditions except when measuring indoor conditions with Polar Team Pro (CV ≈ 10%). Intraclass correlations (ICCs) for consistency within the sensors varied from 0.47 to 0.99, and significantly lower ICCs were documented at 8, 10, and 12 km h−1. Both systems underestimated distance measured in indoor and outdoor conditions, and distance validity in different intensities seemed to worsen as speeds increased. Although Polar Team Pro demonstrated poor validity and reliability in indoor conditions, both systems exhibited good reliability between their sensors in outdoor conditions, whereas the reliability within their sensors varied with different speeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1689 KiB  
Article
A Novel Inexpensive Camera-Based Photoelectric Barrier System for Accurate Flying Sprint Time Measurement
by Tom Uhlmann, Sabrina Bräuer, Falk Zaumseil and Guido Brunnett
Sensors 2023, 23(17), 7339; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23177339 - 23 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1513
Abstract
This paper introduces a novel approach to addressing the challenge of accurately timing short distance runs, a critical aspect in the assessment of athletic performance. Electronic photoelectric barriers, although recognized for their dependability and accuracy, have remained largely inaccessible to non-professional athletes and [...] Read more.
This paper introduces a novel approach to addressing the challenge of accurately timing short distance runs, a critical aspect in the assessment of athletic performance. Electronic photoelectric barriers, although recognized for their dependability and accuracy, have remained largely inaccessible to non-professional athletes and smaller sport clubs due to their high costs. A comprehensive review of existing timing systems reveals that claimed accuracies beyond 30 ms lack experimental validation across most available systems. To bridge this gap, a mobile, camera-based timing system is proposed, capitalizing on consumer-grade electronics and smartphones to provide an affordable and easily accessible alternative. By leveraging readily available hardware components, the construction of the proposed system is detailed, ensuring its cost-effectiveness and simplicity. Experiments involving track and field athletes demonstrate the proficiency of the proposed system in accurately timing short distance sprints. Comparative assessments against a professional photoelectric cells timing system reveal a remarkable accuracy of 62 ms, firmly establishing the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed system. This finding places the camera-based approach on par with existing commercial systems, thereby offering non-professional athletes and smaller sport clubs an affordable means to achieve accurate timing. In an effort to foster further research and development, open access to the device’s schematics and software is provided. This accessibility encourages collaboration and innovation in the pursuit of enhanced performance assessment tools for athletes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 22986 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Cricket Performance Analysis with Human Pose Estimation and Machine Learning
by Hafeez Ur Rehman Siddiqui, Faizan Younas, Furqan Rustam, Emmanuel Soriano Flores, Julién Brito Ballester, Isabel de la Torre Diez, Sandra Dudley and Imran Ashraf
Sensors 2023, 23(15), 6839; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23156839 - 1 Aug 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6279
Abstract
Cricket has a massive global following and is ranked as the second most popular sport globally, with an estimated 2.5 billion fans. Batting requires quick decisions based on ball speed, trajectory, fielder positions, etc. Recently, computer vision and machine learning techniques have gained [...] Read more.
Cricket has a massive global following and is ranked as the second most popular sport globally, with an estimated 2.5 billion fans. Batting requires quick decisions based on ball speed, trajectory, fielder positions, etc. Recently, computer vision and machine learning techniques have gained attention as potential tools to predict cricket strokes played by batters. This study presents a cutting-edge approach to predicting batsman strokes using computer vision and machine learning. The study analyzes eight strokes: pull, cut, cover drive, straight drive, backfoot punch, on drive, flick, and sweep. The study uses the MediaPipe library to extract features from videos and several machine learning and deep learning algorithms, including random forest (RF), support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, decision tree, linear regression, and long short-term memory to predict the strokes. The study achieves an outstanding accuracy of 99.77% using the RF algorithm, outperforming the other algorithms used in the study. The k-fold validation of the RF model is 95.0% with a standard deviation of 0.07, highlighting the potential of computer vision and machine learning techniques for predicting batsman strokes in cricket. The study’s results could help improve coaching techniques and enhance batsmen’s performance in cricket, ultimately improving the game’s overall quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 10189 KiB  
Article
Flexible Pressure Sensors for Integration into Karate Body Protector
by Derya Tama Birkocak, Pedro Gomes and Helder Carvalho
Sensors 2023, 23(14), 6524; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23146524 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1916
Abstract
The increasing interest in karate has also attracted the attention of researchers, especially in combining the equipment used by practitioners with technology to prevent injuries, improve technical skills and provide appropriate scoring. Contrary to the sport of taekwondo, the development of a smart [...] Read more.
The increasing interest in karate has also attracted the attention of researchers, especially in combining the equipment used by practitioners with technology to prevent injuries, improve technical skills and provide appropriate scoring. Contrary to the sport of taekwondo, the development of a smart body protector in the sport of karate is still a niche field to be researched. This study focused on developing piezoresistive, textile-based pressure sensors using piezoresistive film, conductive fabric as well as different bonding materials and methods. Primarily, small-scale sensors were produced using ultrasonic welding, hot press welding and oven curing. These were characterized using a universal testing machine and specific conditioning and data-acquisition hardware combined with custom processing software. Large-scale sensors were then manufactured to be placed inside the karate body protector and characterized using cyclic testing. The conditioning circuit allows flexible gain adjustment, and it was possible to obtain a stable signal with an output of up to 0.03 V/N, an adequate signal for the tested force range. The transfer function shows some drift over the cycles, in addition to the expected hysteresis and slight nonlinearity, which can be compensated for. Finally, the configuration with the best results was tested in real practice tests; during these tests the body protector was placed on a dummy as well as on a person. The results showed that the piezoresistive textile-based pressure sensor produced is able to detect and quantify the impact of even light punches, providing an unobtrusive means for performance monitoring and score calculation for competitive practice of this sport. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies in Sports and Exercise)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop