Sport Biomechanics Applications Using Inertial, Force, and EMG Sensors: A Literature Overview

Abstract

In the last few decades, a number of technological developments have advanced the spread of wearable sensors for the assessment of human motion. These sensors have been also developed to assess athletes' performance, providing useful guidelines for coaching, as well as for injury prevention. The data from these sensors provides key performance outcomes as well as more detailed kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data that provides insight into how the performance was obtained. From this perspective, inertial sensors, force sensors, and electromyography appear to be the most appropriate wearable sensors to use. Several studies were conducted to verify the feasibility of using wearable sensors for sport applications by using both commercially available and customized sensors. The present study seeks to provide an overview of sport biomechanics applications found from recent literature using wearable sensors, highlighting some information related to the used sensors and analysis methods. From the literature review results, it appears that inertial sensors are the most widespread sensors for assessing athletes' performance; however, there still exist applications for force sensors and electromyography in this context. The main sport assessed in the studies was running, even though the range of sports examined was quite high. The provided overview can be useful for researchers, athletes, and coaches to understand the technologies currently available for sport performance assessment.

Figure 1

Selection process of papers focused on inertial sensors. Blue block represents the identification step, yellow blocks the screening step, red blocks the eligibility step, and green block the inclusion step.

Figure 2

Selection process of papers focused on force sensors. Blue block represents the identification step, yellow blocks the screening step, red blocks the eligibility step, and green block the inclusion step.

Figure 3

Selection process of papers focused on EMG sensors. Blue block represents the identification step, yellow blocks the screening step, red blocks the eligibility step, and green block the inclusion step.