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Applications and Development of Intelligent Sensors for Sports, Health, and Medicine

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2024) | Viewed by 17218

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 12, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Interests: human motion tracking; human body pose estimation; particle swarm optimization; parallel and distributed computing; gait recognition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: sports biomechanics; human movement analysis; computer science in sports; sports prediction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Interests: functional fitness; cognitive function; quality of life; physical activity; physical education; interactive technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, ul. Prószkowska 76, 45-758 Opole, Poland
Interests: sport sciences; sports training; sports biomechanics; physical fitness; strength and condition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, the application and development of various types of intelligent sensors in sports, health, and medicine are one of the most interesting and active research topics. Smart sensors play a significant role in assessing various health, medical, and sports indicators. Motion analysis using cameras, depth sensors, IMU sensors, or EMG technology is effectively used to evaluate human movement in many areas of life. In professional sports, intelligent sensors have revolutionized the training process. Examples include sensors with built-in GPS modules to monitor the player’s locomotor intensity during a match or training. Based on sensor data, individual training units are optimized. Another important aspect of using smart sensors is the direct assessment of physical activity. Using accelerometers, it is possible to objectively assess and monitor the intensity of physical activity levels among children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. That information is essential to deliver the most effective exercise training programs according to the people's needs. Various types of sensors can also be used to diagnose disease entities, e.g. motion capture systems can be used to assess diseases of the musculoskeletal system. We welcome for submission of high-quality publications of researchers who work on applications and development of various types of sensors for sports, health, and medicine. More precisely, the relevant topics for this special issue include (but are not limited to):

  • Human motion analysis
  • Sensors in biomechanics
  • Assessing physical fitness and physical activities
  • Sensors in athletic training
  • Sensors in kinesiology
  • Sensors in sleep analysis
  • Sensors in strength and conditioning
  • Human pose estimation
  • Multi-person pose estimation
  • Sport players tracking
  • Action and gesture recognition
  • Gait recognition
  • Human fall detection

Dr. Tomasz Krzeszowski
Dr. Krzysztof Przednowek
Dr. Élvio Gouveia
Prof. Dr. Janusz Iskra
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • human movement
  • sports biomechanics
  • sport sciences
  • GPS tracking
  • health science
  • multi-person 3D pose estimation
  • human fall detection
  • gait recognition
  • human motion tracking

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 6802 KiB  
Article
Detection of Total Hip Replacement Loosening Based on Structure-Borne Sound: Influence of the Position of the Sensor on the Hip Stem
by Nico Schumacher, Franziska Geiger, Sascha Spors, Rainer Bader, Christian Haubelt and Daniel Kluess
Sensors 2024, 24(14), 4594; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24144594 - 16 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1068
Abstract
Accurate detection of implant loosening is crucial for early intervention in total hip replacements, but current imaging methods lack sensitivity and specificity. Vibration methods, already successful in dentistry, represent a promising approach. In order to detect loosening of the total hip replacement, excitation [...] Read more.
Accurate detection of implant loosening is crucial for early intervention in total hip replacements, but current imaging methods lack sensitivity and specificity. Vibration methods, already successful in dentistry, represent a promising approach. In order to detect loosening of the total hip replacement, excitation and measurement should be performed intracorporeally to minimize the influence of soft tissue on damping of the signals. However, only implants with a single sensor intracorporeally integrated into the implant for detecting vibrations have been presented in the literature. Considering different mode shapes, the sensor’s position on the implant is assumed to influence the signals. In the work at hand, the influence of the position of the sensor on the recording of the vibrations on the implant was investigated. For this purpose, a simplified test setup was created with a titanium rod implanted in a cylinder of artificial cancellous bone. Mechanical stimulation via an exciter attached to the rod was recorded by three accelerometers at varying positions along the titanium rod. Three states of peri-implant loosening within the bone stock were simulated by extracting the bone material around the titanium rod, and different markers were analyzed to distinguish between these states of loosening. In addition, a modal analysis was performed using the finite element method to analyze the mode shapes. Distinct differences in the signals recorded by the acceleration sensors within defects highlight the influence of sensor position on mode detection and natural frequencies. Thus, using multiple sensors could be advantageous in accurately detecting all modes and determining the implant loosening state more precisely. Full article
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10 pages, 293 KiB  
Article
The Influence of the Playing Surface on Workload Response in Spanish Professional Male Soccer Players
by José C. Ponce-Bordón, Jorge Polo-Tejada, Borja Sanabria-Pino, Ana Rubio-Morales, Tomás García-Calvo and David Lobo-Triviño
Sensors 2024, 24(14), 4506; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24144506 - 12 Jul 2024
Viewed by 910
Abstract
This study aimed to quantify the influence of the playing surface on workload-related variables (i.e., external load, Rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and mental load) in training sessions with a Spanish professional soccer team. Twenty professional male players from the same soccer team [...] Read more.
This study aimed to quantify the influence of the playing surface on workload-related variables (i.e., external load, Rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and mental load) in training sessions with a Spanish professional soccer team. Twenty professional male players from the same soccer team were involved. A total of thirty training sessions related to the preseason period were included. All the players completed training sessions on three playing surfaces: natural turf of poor quality, natural turf of high quality, and third-generation artificial turf. Monitoring during sessions involved assessing internal load (i.e., RPE and mental load) via self-reported questionnaires, and external load using Global Positioning System devices. Linear mixed models showed that RPE was significantly higher on natural turf of high quality than on natural turf of poor quality (p < 0.001). Total distance, relative total distance, the number of accelerations, decelerations, and high metabolic load distance were significantly lower on third-generation artificial turf compared to natural turf of poor quality (p < 0.001) and high quality (p < 0.001). In addition, high-speed running, sprint running distances, and the number of sprints reached higher values on third-generation artificial turf compared to the other two playing surfaces. These findings highlight the need for coaches to consider the type of training surface in soccer to optimize training load planning and prevent injuries. Full article
14 pages, 2720 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Wearable Resistance Placement on Running Efficiency Assessed by Wearable Sensors: A Pilot Study
by Arunee Promsri, Siriyakorn Deedphimai, Petradda Promthep and Chonthicha Champamuang
Sensors 2024, 24(13), 4399; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24134399 - 7 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1084
Abstract
Wearable resistance training is widely applied to enhance running performance, but how different placements of wearable resistance across various body parts influence running efficiency remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the impacts of wearable resistance placement on running efficiency by comparing five [...] Read more.
Wearable resistance training is widely applied to enhance running performance, but how different placements of wearable resistance across various body parts influence running efficiency remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the impacts of wearable resistance placement on running efficiency by comparing five running conditions: no load, and an additional 10% load of individual body mass on the trunk, forearms, lower legs, and a combination of these areas. Running efficiency was assessed through biomechanical (spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic) variables using acceleration-based wearable sensors placed on the shoes of 15 recreational male runners (20.3 ± 1.23 years) during treadmill running in a randomized order. The main findings indicate distinct effects of different load distributions on specific spatiotemporal variables (contact time, flight time, and flight ratio, p ≤ 0.001) and kinematic variables (footstrike type, p < 0.001). Specifically, adding loads to the lower legs produces effects similar to running with no load: shorter contact time, longer flight time, and a higher flight ratio compared to other load conditions. Moreover, lower leg loads result in a forefoot strike, unlike the midfoot strike seen in other conditions. These findings suggest that lower leg loads enhance running efficiency more than loads on other parts of the body. Full article
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13 pages, 1572 KiB  
Article
Multibody Model with Foot-Deformation Approach for Estimating Ground Reaction Forces and Moments and Joint Torques during Level Walking through Optical Motion Capture without Optimization Techniques
by Naoto Haraguchi and Kazunori Hase
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2792; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092792 - 27 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1133
Abstract
The biomechanical-model-based approach with a contact model offers advantages in estimating ground reaction forces (GRFs) and ground reaction moments (GRMs), as it does not rely on the need for training data and gait assumptions. However, this approach faces the challenge of long computational [...] Read more.
The biomechanical-model-based approach with a contact model offers advantages in estimating ground reaction forces (GRFs) and ground reaction moments (GRMs), as it does not rely on the need for training data and gait assumptions. However, this approach faces the challenge of long computational times due to the inclusion of optimization processes. To address this challenge, the present study developed a new optical motion capture (OMC)-based method to estimate GRFs, GRMs, and joint torques without prolonged computational times. The proposed approach performs the estimation process by distributing external forces, as determined by a multibody model, between the left and right feet based on foot deformations, thereby predicting the GRFs and GRMs without relying on optimization techniques. In this study, prediction accuracies during level walking were confirmed by comparing a general analysis using a force plate with the estimation results. The comparison revealed excellent or strong correlations between the prediction and the measurements for all GRFs, GRMs, and lower-limb-joint torques. The proposed method, which provides practical estimation with low computational cost, facilitates efficient biomechanical analysis and rapid feedback of analysis results, contributing to its increased applicability in clinical settings. Full article
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14 pages, 682 KiB  
Article
Ebbing Strength, Fading Power: Unveiling the Impact of Persistent Fatigue on Muscle Performance in COVID-19 Survivors
by Mateusz Kowal, Ewa Morgiel, Sławomir Winiarski, Robert Dymarek, Weronika Bajer, Marta Madej, Agata Sebastian, Marcin Madziarski, Nicole Wedel, Krzysztof Proc, Katarzyna Madziarska, Piotr Wiland and Małgorzata Paprocka-Borowicz
Sensors 2024, 24(4), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24041250 - 15 Feb 2024
Viewed by 2181
Abstract
The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus infection is over 621 million. Post-COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID or long-haul COVID, refers to a persistent condition where individuals experience symptoms and health issues after the acute phase [...] Read more.
The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus infection is over 621 million. Post-COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID or long-haul COVID, refers to a persistent condition where individuals experience symptoms and health issues after the acute phase of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess the strength and fatigue of skeletal muscles in people recovered from COVID-19. A total of 94 individuals took part in this cross-sectional study, with 45 participants (referred to as the Post-COVID Cohort, PCC) and 49 healthy age-matched volunteers (Healthy Control Cohort, HCC). This research article uses the direct dynamometry method to provide a detailed analysis of post-COVID survivors’ strength and power characteristics. The Biodex System 4 Pro was utilized to evaluate muscle strength characteristics during the fatigue test. The fatigue work in extensors and flexors was significantly higher in the PCC. The PCC also showed significantly less power in both extensors and flexors compared to the HCC. In conclusion, this study provides compelling evidence of the impact of post-COVID-19 fatigue on muscle performance, highlighting the importance of considering these effects in the rehabilitation and care of individuals recovering from the virus. PCC achieved lower muscle strength values than HCC. Full article
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12 pages, 2117 KiB  
Article
Unobstructive Heartbeat Monitoring of Sleeping Infants and Young Children Using Sheet-Type PVDF Sensors
by Daisuke Kumaki, Yuko Motoshima, Fujio Higuchi, Katsuhiro Sato, Tomohito Sekine and Shizuo Tokito
Sensors 2023, 23(22), 9252; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23229252 - 17 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1615
Abstract
Techniques for noninvasively acquiring the vital information of infants and young children are considered very useful in the fields of healthcare and medical care. An unobstructive measurement method for sleeping infants and young children under the age of 6 years using a sheet-type [...] Read more.
Techniques for noninvasively acquiring the vital information of infants and young children are considered very useful in the fields of healthcare and medical care. An unobstructive measurement method for sleeping infants and young children under the age of 6 years using a sheet-type vital sensor with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) pressure-sensitive layer is demonstrated. The signal filter conditions to obtain the ballistocardiogram (BCG) and phonocardiogram (PCG) are discussed from the waveform data of infants and young children. The difference in signal processing conditions was caused by the physique of the infants and young children. The peak-to-peak interval (PPI) extracted from the BCG or PCG during sleep showed an extremely high correlation with the R-to-R interval (RRI) extracted from the electrocardiogram (ECG). The vital changes until awakening in infants monitored using a sheet sensor were also investigated. In infants under one year of age that awakened spontaneously, the distinctive vital changes during awakening were observed. Understanding the changes in the heartbeat and respiration signs of infants and young children during sleep is essential for improving the accuracy of abnormality detection by unobstructive sensors. Full article
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12 pages, 2319 KiB  
Article
System for Estimation of Human Anthropometric Parameters Based on Data from Kinect v2 Depth Camera
by Tomasz Krzeszowski, Bartosz Dziadek, Cíntia França, Francisco Martins, Élvio Rúbio Gouveia and Krzysztof Przednowek
Sensors 2023, 23(7), 3459; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23073459 - 25 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3177
Abstract
Anthropometric measurements of the human body are an important problem that affects many aspects of human life. However, anthropometric measurement often requires the application of an appropriate measurement procedure and the use of specialized, sometimes expensive measurement tools. Sometimes the measurement procedure is [...] Read more.
Anthropometric measurements of the human body are an important problem that affects many aspects of human life. However, anthropometric measurement often requires the application of an appropriate measurement procedure and the use of specialized, sometimes expensive measurement tools. Sometimes the measurement procedure is complicated, time-consuming, and requires properly trained personnel. This study aimed to develop a system for estimating human anthropometric parameters based on a three-dimensional scan of the complete body made with an inexpensive depth camera in the form of the Kinect v2 sensor. The research included 129 men aged 18 to 28. The developed system consists of a rotating platform, a depth sensor (Kinect v2), and a PC computer that was used to record 3D data, and to estimate individual anthropometric parameters. Experimental studies have shown that the precision of the proposed system for a significant part of the parameters is satisfactory. The largest error was found in the waist circumference parameter. The results obtained confirm that this method can be used in anthropometric measurements. Full article
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13 pages, 1628 KiB  
Article
Development and Practice of Sports-Related Public Welfare Platform Based on Multi-Sensor Technology
by Quantao He, Tongchang Hu, Yong Zhong, Wenjuan Li and Ren Sun
Sensors 2023, 23(2), 713; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23020713 - 8 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1650
Abstract
Today, more and more Internet public media platforms allowing people to make donations or seek help are being founded in China. However, there are few specialized sports-related public welfare platforms. In this paper, a sports-related public welfare platform that aims to help people [...] Read more.
Today, more and more Internet public media platforms allowing people to make donations or seek help are being founded in China. However, there are few specialized sports-related public welfare platforms. In this paper, a sports-related public welfare platform that aims to help people who were disabled due to participation in sports and those who are disabled but want to participate in sports was developed based on multi-sensor technology. A multi-sensor data fusion algorithm was developed, and its estimation performance was verified by comparing it with the existing Kalman consistent filtering algorithm in terms of average estimation and average consistency errors. Experimental results prove that the speed of the data collection and analysis of the sports-related public welfare platform using the algorithm established in this paper was greatly improved. Relevant data on how users used this platform showed that various factors affected users’ practical satisfaction with sports-related public welfare media platforms. It is suggested that a sports-related public welfare media platform should pay attention to the aid effect, and specific efforts should be devoted to improving the reliability and timeliness of public welfare aid information, and ensuring the stability of the platform system. Full article
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Review

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25 pages, 2345 KiB  
Review
Inertial Sensors for Hip Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review
by Patricia Acosta-Vargas, Omar Flor, Belén Salvador-Acosta, Franyelit Suárez-Carreño, Marco Santórum, Santiago Solorzano and Luis Salvador-Ullauri
Sensors 2023, 23(11), 5048; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23115048 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3284
Abstract
The objective of this scoping review is to characterize the current panorama of inertia sensors for the rehabilitation of hip arthroplasty. In this context, the most widely used sensors are IMUs, which combine accelerometers and gyroscopes to measure acceleration and angular velocity in [...] Read more.
The objective of this scoping review is to characterize the current panorama of inertia sensors for the rehabilitation of hip arthroplasty. In this context, the most widely used sensors are IMUs, which combine accelerometers and gyroscopes to measure acceleration and angular velocity in three axes. We found that data collected by the IMU sensors are used to analyze and detect any deviation from the normal to measure the position and movement of the hip joint. The main functions of inertial sensors are to measure various aspects of training, such as speed, acceleration, and body orientation. The reviewers extracted the most relevant articles published between 2010 and 2023 in the ACM Digital Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. In this scoping review, the PRISMA-ScR checklist was used, and a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.4866 was applied, implying moderate agreement between reviewers; 23 primary studies were extracted from a total of 681. In the future, it will be an excellent challenge for experts in inertial sensors with medical applications to provide access codes for other researchers, which will be one of the most critical trends in the advancement of applications of portable inertial sensors for biomechanics. Full article
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