Biomechanics Research in Sports with Wearable Sensors
A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Wearables".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 1766
Special Issue Editors
Interests: flywheel and wearable sensors in resistance training in team sports and analysis of human movement variability
Interests: the application of wearable technology in sports and physical activity to assess physiological parameters
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: flywheel and wearable sensors in resistance training; analysis of human movement variability; validation of sports training devices
Interests: the application of wearable technology in sports and physical activity to assess human movement biomechanics and movement variability using nonlinear analysis techniques
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Recent advances in wearable sensing technologies, including smartphones and mobile applications equipped with inertial measurement units (IMUs), are transforming biomechanics research in sports and physical activity. These tools enable continuous, unobtrusive, and field-based monitoring of athletes, bridging the gap between laboratory-based motion capture and real-world performance analysis. Mobile IMUs, combined with traditional wearables such as EMG sensors, pressure platforms, and smart textiles, provide high-resolution data on movement patterns, training load, and physiological responses. Such technologies are becoming indispensable for evidence-based training, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance optimization across elite, amateur, and recreational sports.
The adoption of mobile IMUs and app-based monitoring offers new opportunities and methodological challenges. Ensuring data quality, calibration, synchronization, and real-time processing is essential for reliable biomechanical assessment. Combined with advanced signal processing, sensor fusion, and machine learning, mobile apps enable meaningful performance indicators, personalized feedback, and injury risk prediction, while providing user-friendly platforms for visualization and interactive analysis. These developments reflect the growing trend toward digital, data-driven sports science and emphasize the need for validation, usability, and scalability in real-world settings.
This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the latest advances in sports biomechanics research using wearable sensors and mobile IMUs. We consider contributions covering both fundamental and applied research, including innovative sensing technologies, biomechanical modeling, advanced data analysis methodologies, and application-focused studies that improve athletic performance, monitoring, and injury prevention.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Wearable sensors for sports biomechanics (IMUs, EMG, pressure sensors, smart textiles);
- Smartphones and mobile applications as IMUs for in-field biomechanical monitoring;
- Validation of wearable and mobile sensors against laboratory systems;
- Signal processing, sensor fusion, and machine learning for biomechanical analysis;
- Real-time monitoring and feedback systems for athletes using wearables and mobile apps;
- Sport-specific and field-based biomechanical applications.
Dr. Bruno Fernández-Valdés
Dr. Víctor Toro-Román
Dr. Víctor Illera-Domínguez
Dr. Carla Pérez-Chirinos
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- wearable sensors
- sports biomechanics
- mobile IMUs
- smartphone applications
- motion analysis
- signal processing
- sensor fusion
- real-time feedback
- human movement
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