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Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2022) | Viewed by 27132

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Joshua A. Hagen

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Guest Editor

Human Performance Collaborative, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Interests: human performance; sport and tactical science; exercise physiology; physiological monitoring; recovery science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of human performance science has been expanding at a rapid pace over the last decade thanks to technological advances in physiological monitoring devices, data capture technologies, data analytics tools, and performance augmentation modalities, to name a few. These developments have enabled a deeper and more quantified look into the link between physiology and human performance in all populations, ranging from high-performing athletes to generally healthy individuals to the clinically compromised. Importantly, performance is defined based on the population being studied, and (as an example) can take the form of competition results for athletes, general health and wellbeing for healthy individuals, and improved function in clinical patients.

In this Special Issue, we aim to present research that highlights topics along the sense–assess–augment paradigm of human performance. Sense is the science and application of measuring signals in, on, and around the human body. Assess is the analysis and understanding of those signals not just physiologically, but within the context in which it is being analyzed. Finally, augment is the use of techniques and tools to modulate performance. Tying all parts together, you can measure the physiological signals of your population, understand the data, demands, and needs for performance in both the short and long term, and apply methodologies and modalities to positively enhance that performance. Preference will be given to original research that utilizes all domains of the sense–assess–augment paradigm, and all populations of study under this paradigm are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Joshua A. Hagen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

human performance
sport science
tactical science
augmentation
recovery science
wearable technology
physiological monitoring
neuromodulation
cognitive enhancement

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in External and Internal Load in Elite Youth Soccer Players within Different Match Timing Zones

by Egon Kunzmann, Kevin R. Ford, Dai Sugimoto, Arnold Baca, Mikulas Hank, David Bujnovsky, Lucia Mala, Frantisek Zahalka and Tomas Maly

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 7230; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12147230 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2183

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the differences between the players’ internal (IL) and external load (EL) in different time zones (T1: 0–45 min, T2: 45–70 min, T3: 0–70 min, T4: 70–90 min, T5: 45–90 min, and T6: 0–90 min) in elite youth soccer matches (U17–19 age category). The monitored group comprised elite youth soccer players (n = 66; age = 17.5 ± 1.2 years; body height = 178.5 ± 8.7 cm; body mass = 70.4 ± 6.3 kg). Multivariate analysis of variances was used to compare the following variables: relative total distance covered (TDC_rel), distance covered in different speed zones (Z1–Z6), high-metabolic load distance (HMLD), maximum running speed (S_max), number of acceleration (ACC) and deceleration (DCC) entries in different speed zones (Z1, Z2, Z3), and maximum heart rate (HR_max). Results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the first 70 min (T3) compared to the last 20 min of the match (T4) in the following: TDC_rel was higher, up to 6.6% (123.09 ± 9.48 vs. 115.03 ± 9.42 m.min⁻¹); distance in Z5 (22.4%, 6.08 ± 1.82 vs. 4.72 ± 1.72 m.min⁻¹); Z4 (18.6%, 20.15 ± 4.82 vs. 16.40 ± 3.48 m.min⁻¹); Z3 (10.4%, 53.06 ± 47.52 m.min⁻¹); and HMLD (16.1%, 34.86 ± 5.67 vs. 29.26 ± 5.11 m.min⁻¹). We also found higher running performance in the first half (T1) than in the second half (T5) in the following parameters: TDC_rel, Z5, Z4, ACC_Z1, ACC_Z2, and DCC_Z1. With progressive time (in T4) we found a significant decrease in physical running performance, probably due to fatigue, which can lead to potential injury or losing in a match. The results of this study may provide helpful information in developing training strategies for coaches and in the set-up of plan for potential substitution of exhausted players mainly for the last 20 min of a match (T4). The present results are expressed as a relative value and should be compared with other study results with irregular timing zones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation)

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17 pages, 3559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Auditory Pre-Stimulation on Cognitive Task Performance in a Noisy Environment

by Sehee An, Kyeongtae Kim, Dohun Ahn, Haehyun Lee, Minseok Son and Donghyun Beck

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 5823; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12125823 - 8 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2842

Abstract

The accident rate due to human errors in industrial fields has been consistently high over the past few decades, and noise has been emerging as one of the main causes of human errors. In recent years, auditory pre-stimulation has been considered as a means of preventing human errors by improving workers’ cognitive task performance. However, most previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of the auditory pre-stimulation in a quiet environment. Accordingly, studies on the effects of pre-stimulation in a noisy environment are still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to empirically investigate: (1) the effects of noisy environments on the performances of cognitive tasks related to different functions of working memory and (2) the effects of auditory pre-stimulation on the performances of cognitive tasks in a field-noise environment. To accomplish these research objectives, two major experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, a total of 24 participants performed each of three basic short-term/working memory (STM/WM) tasks under two different experimental conditions (quiet-noise environment and field-noise environment) depending on the presence or absence of field noise. In the second experiment, the participants performed each of the three basic STM/WM tasks in a field-noise environment after they were provided with one of four different auditory pre-stimulations (quiet noise, white noise, field noise, and mixed (white and field) noise). The three STM/WM tasks were the Corsi block-tapping, Digit span, and 3-back tasks, corresponding to the visuospatial sketchpad, the phonological loop, and the central executive of WM, respectively. The major findings were that: (1) the field-noise environment did not affect the scores of the Corsi block-tapping and 3-back tasks, significantly affecting only the Digit span task score (decreased by 15.2%, p < 0.01); and (2) the Digit span task performance in the field-noise environment was improved by 17.9% (p < 0.05) when mixed noise was provided as a type of auditory pre-stimulation. These findings may be useful for the work-space designs that prevent/minimize human errors and industrial accidents by improving the cognitive task performance of workers in field-noise environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation)

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16 pages, 4251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Model of Emotion Judgment Based on Features of Multiple Physiological Signals

by Wenqian Lin, Chao Li and Yunmian Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 4998; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104998 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1974

Abstract

The model of emotion judgment based on features of multiple physiological signals was investi-gated. In total, 40 volunteers participated in the experiment by playing a computer game while their physiological signals (skin electricity, electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse wave, and facial electromy-ogram (EMG)) were acquired. The volunteers were asked to complete an emotion questionnaire where six typical events that appeared in the game were included, and each volunteer rated their own emotion when experiencing the six events. Based on the analysis of game events, the signal data were cut into segments and the emotional trends were classified. The correlation between data segments and emotional trends was built using a statistical method combined with the questionnaire responses. The set of optimal signal features was obtained by processing the data of physiological signals, extracting the features of signal data, reducing the dimensionality of signal features, and classifying the emotion based on the set of signal data. Finally, the model of emotion judgment was established by selecting the features with a significance of 0.01 based on the correlation between the features in the set of optimal signal features and emotional trends. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation)

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9 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are There Sex Differences in Balance Performance after a Short-Term Physical Intervention in Seniors 65+? A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Milada Krejčí, Jiří Kajzar, Rudolf Psotta, Miroslav Tichý, Radmila Kancheva, Václav Hošek and Martin Hill

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3452; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073452 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1877

Abstract

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies demonstrated a relationship between sex and balance determinants in seniors; however, no study has focused on sex-related differences in static and dynamic balance performance after a physical intervention as primary interest. The aim was to investigate sex differences in the static and dynamic balance performance after a 4-week physical intervention based on yoga in seniors 65+ years of age. Five-hundred participants (234 males, 266 females) were assessed with the Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool in pre-and post-testing. The experimental group (122 males, 140 females) underwent the intervention, while the control group (112 males, 126 females) ran their usual daily program. ANCOVA model was used for the statistical evaluation of the results. No sex differences were found in balance performance after a short-term physical intervention in seniors 65+ years of age. At the same time, a significant positive shift was demonstrated in performance in both static and dynamic balance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation)

12 pages, 1467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Hamstring and ACL Injury Incidence during a Season Is Not Directly Related to Preseason Knee Strength Ratios in Elite Male Soccer Players

by Jana Izovska, Mikulas Hank, Lee Cabell, Maros Kalata, David Bujnovsky, Frantisek Zahalka and Tomas Maly

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1272; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031272 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4312

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify preseason isokinetic strength differences in the knee flexors and extensors and their ipsilateral/bilateral ratios and, furthermore, to compare the results among players who subsequently overcame a hamstring strain injury (HSI) or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture during the season and those who did not. Materials and Methods: A total of 134 professional soccer players underwent isokinetic strength assessment at a velocity of 60°·s⁻¹ (knee flexors and extensors) for the dominant and non-dominant lower limb to determine preseason peak torque values and bilateral and ipsilateral strength ratios. Subsequently, the incidence of injuries during the season was recorded, and players were divided into groups according to ACL rupture injuries (n = 10), hamstring strains (n = 10), and a control group of non-injured players who were selected on a random basis (n = 20). A retrospective approach was used to analyze and compare the preseason strength characteristics and whether some variance among groups was relevant among the injured leg and non-injured leg groups. Results: The results of our study show that low-angular velocity preseason testing did not result in a player’s HSI or ACL injury during the season. The difference between the monitored groups ranged from 1.5% to 3%. The comparison showed low evidence for significant differences. Conclusions: An angular velocity of 60°·s⁻¹ within concentric muscle contraction alone was not linked to subsequent injury of the hamstring or anterior cruciate ligament and acted as an insufficient factor of injury risk in adult professional soccer players. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation)

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21 pages, 6718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Age and Initial Shoulder Posture on the Upper Limb Range of Harvesting Movements among Oil Palm Harvesters

by Nelson Pady Tumit, Azmin Sham Rambely and Baba Md Deros

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10280; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110280 - 2 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2183

Abstract

The occurrence of musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) among oil palm harvesters has been studied extensively, but there is a lack of published studies on the evaluation of the range of harvesting movements. This information is important to design the ergonomic tools needed in the manual harvesting of oil palm. We examined the upper limb motion of oil palm harvesters to determine the effects of age and initial shoulder postures on their range of harvesting movements. Twenty male harvesters performed a manual push-pull-cutting technique (≥3 m fresh fruit branches (FFBs) height). The study was conducted by capturing the 1-D push-pull cutting technique harvesting movement via the Quintic system at the sagittal plane. The active range of harvesting movements during the harvesting phases and the range of the harvesting movement of the initial and maximum postures of their upper arms were calculated based on the kinematic data generated with the Quintic Biomechanics system (Version 29). Participants were divided into three groups based on their age, and two groups based on their initial support shoulder position, and dominant shoulder position. Data were analysed using the ANOVA and t-test. The joint movement angle pattern of the harvesters was classified into three phases: preparation, execution, and ending. The age-related variances for the initial and maximum support shoulder postures were determined. The range of harvesting movements and the active range of harvesting movements during the preparation phase at the support shoulder and wrist region were also observed. The initial support shoulder posture displayed a statistical variance in the maximum support and dominant range of harvesting movements of the shoulder. It was also linked to a reduced active range of harvesting movements for the support shoulder flexion and dominant wrist ulnar deviation at the preparation phase. Furthermore, the initial dominant shoulder exhibited a statistically significant difference for the dominant arm and a reduced active range of harvesting movements in the dominant wrist ulnar deviation at the preparation phase. This study produced important evidence about factors to be considered for the ergonomic design of harvesting tools and workplaces, especially within the oil palm industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation)

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23 pages, 5968 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Applying Force Plate Technology to Inform Human Performance Programming in Tactical Populations

by Justin J. Merrigan, Jason D. Stone, Joel R. Martin, William Guy Hornsby, Scott M. Galster and Joshua A. Hagen

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6538; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146538 - 16 Jul 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 9878

Abstract

Force plate assessments, such as countermovement jumps and isometric mid-thigh pulls, examine performances (e.g., jump height, force, power) and movement strategies (e.g., asymmetries, durations), and are best suited to characterize and monitor physical capabilities, not predict injuries. To begin applying force plate technologies, users must first; (1) develop a data management plan to visualize and capture data over time; (2) select appropriate force plates for their scenario; (3) design appropriate testing protocols to ensure valid and reliable data. Force plate assessments may be added to existing testing, serve as separate testing batteries for annual profile testing to compare individuals and understand initial physical capabilities, or for more frequent testing (i.e., monthly or weekly) to monitor training-related adaptations or neuromuscular fatigue. Although these assessments inform evidence-based program designs, human performance practitioners must understand the considerations for conducting appropriate force plate testing, as well as proper visualizations and management of force plate data. Thus, the aim of this review is to provide evidence-based practices for utilizing force plates in tactical populations (e.g., military, firefighters, police). This includes best practices to implement testing for performance profiling, training adaptations, and monitoring neuromuscular fatigue and force asymmetries. Of note, due to the large amount of force-time metrics to choose from, this article provides general examples of important metrics to monitor and training recommendations based on changes to these force-time metrics, followed by specific examples in three case studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Performance Monitoring and Augmentation)

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