The purpose of this study was to elucidate pelvic orientation angles using a single lower back-mounted inertial sensor during sprinting. A single inertial sensor was attached to each sprinter’s lower back, used to measure continuous pelvic movements including pelvic obliquity (roll), anterior-posterior tilt (pitch) and rotation (yaw) during sprinting from a straight to bend section. The pelvic orientation angles were estimated with the three-dimensional sensor orientation using a sensor fusion algorithm. Absolute angles derived from the sensor were compared with angles obtained from an optical motion capture system over a 15 m length. The root mean squared error between the sensor and motion capture data were 4.1° for roll, 2.8° for pitch and 3.6° for yaw. Therefore, the sensor was comparable to the motion capture system for tracking pelvic angle changes. The inertial sensor is now supported as a valid tool to measure movements of the pelvis during sprinting.

Background: An algorithm for the classification of ambulatory and non-ambulatory activities using the ratio of unfiltered to filtered synthetic acceleration measured with a triaxial accelerometer and predictive models for physical activity intensity (METs) in adults and in elementary school children has been developed. The purpose of the present study was to derive predictive equations for METs with a similar algorithm in young children. Methods: Thirty-seven healthy Japanese children (four- to six-years old) participated in this study. The five non-ambulatory activities including low-intensity activities, and five ambulatory activities were selected. The raw accelerations using a triaxial accelerometer and energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry using the Douglas bag method during each activity were collected. Results: For non-ambulatory activities, especially light-intensity non-ambulatory activities, linear regression equations with a predetermined intercept (0.9) or quadratic equations were a better fit than the linear regression. The equations were different from those for adults and elementary school children. On the other hand, the ratios of unfiltered to filtered synthetic acceleration in non-ambulatory activities were different from those in ambulatory activities, as in adults and elementary school children. Conclusions: Our calibration model for young children could accurately predict intensity of physical activity including low-intensity non-ambulatory activities.

Mages of the initial 40 m part of a flight of 120-m ski jumping were recorded by a fixed high-speed video camera in Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. The time variations of the forward leaning angle and the ski angle of attack were measured from the video image and the aerodynamic forces were calculated from kinematic data. Some correlations were investigated between the reduced jumping distance Dr, which is an initial speed corrected flight distance, and some key angles and the initial transition time, as well as those between Dr and the aerodynamic force coefficients. Jumping performance is compared between advanced jumpers and beginner jumpers

Ten participants were assessed while walking in water and on land with wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) attached to the right thigh. Longitudinal acceleration, anterior-posterior acceleration, and frontal axis angular velocity were measured at 100 Hz, matched with video analysis sampled at 25 Hz during the walking trials. The longitudinal acceleration showed almost 1 g from initial heel contact to 70% of one cycle, and the anterior-posterior acceleration showed a sinusoidal pattern, synchronizing the approximate posture of the thigh in water. The frontal axis angular velocity fluctuated less while walking in water compared with on land, because thigh motion speed was slower in water than on land. The acceleration and angular velocity in water were stable and did not fluctuate. Walking exercises in water may be effective in individuals with knee- or thigh-related medical issues.