Assessment of three-dimensional joint kinematics of the upper limb during simulated swimming using wearable inertial-magnetic measurement units
Abstract
The analysis of the joint kinematics during swimming plays a fundamental role both in sports conditioning and in clinical contexts. Contrary to the traditional video analysis, wearable inertial-magnetic measurements units (IMMUs) allow to analyse both the underwater and aerial phases of the swimming stroke over the whole length of the swimming pool. Furthermore, the rapid calibration and short data processing required by IMMUs provide coaches and athletes with an immediate feedback on swimming kinematics during training. This study aimed to develop a protocol to assess the three-dimensional kinematics of the upper limbs during swimming using IMMUs. Kinematics were evaluated during simulated dry-land swimming trials performed in the laboratory by eight swimmers. A stereo-photogrammetric system was used as the gold standard. The results showed high coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC) values, with median (first-third quartile) of 0.97 (0.93-0.95) and 0.99 (0.97-0.99) for simulated front-crawl and breaststroke, respectively. Furthermore, the joint angles were estimated with an accuracy increasing from distal to proximal joints, with wrist indices showing median CMC values always higher than 0.90. The present findings represent an important step towards the practical use of technology based on IMMUs for the kinematic analysis of swimming in applied contexts.
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Shoulder heterogeneity of results (RMSE 0.2-64.5° and r 0.69-1.00) and movements made it difficult to conclude validity.
“Despite a larger number of studies published for this joint, heterogeneity of results (RMSE between 0.2 and 64.5° and r from 0.69 to 1.00) and movements performed made it difficult to conclude the validity of using M/IMU systems for movement at this joint [31,32,33,34,35,37,38,39,42,43,44,45].”
From Validity and Reliability of Wearable Sensors for Joint Angle Estimation: A Systematic Review (2019) · cites this paper as [32]
Elbow RMSE and correlation coefficient results ranged from 0.2 to 30.6° and 0.68 to 0.99, showing good to excellent validity.
“RMSE and correlation coefficient results range from 0.2 to 30.6° and 0.68 to 0.99, respectively, showing good to excellent validity [28,31,32,33,34,35,37,39,43,45].”
From Validity and Reliability of Wearable Sensors for Joint Angle Estimation: A Systematic Review (2019) · cites this paper as [32]
Wrist RMSE and correlation coefficients varied from 2.2 to 30° and 0.62 to 0.99, showing fair to good validity.
“RMSE and correlation coefficients varied respectively from 2.2 to 30° and from 0.62 to 0.99, showing fair to good validity [28,32,33,35,37,43].”
From Validity and Reliability of Wearable Sensors for Joint Angle Estimation: A Systematic Review (2019) · cites this paper as [32]
Studies reporting the worst validity assessed sporting tasks or activities of daily living such as sweeping a table.
“For example, studies reporting the worst validity assessed sporting tasks or activities of daily living such as sweeping a table [32,34].”
From Validity and Reliability of Wearable Sensors for Joint Angle Estimation: A Systematic Review (2019) · cites this paper as [32]
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- Authors
- Fantozzi, S., Giovanardi, A., Magalhães, F. A., Di Michele, R., Cortesi, M., & Gatta, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Bologna (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Fantozzi, Silvia
- Venue
- Journal of Sports Sciences
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-09-14
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1073-1080
- ISSN
- 0264-0414 (ISSN-L)
- 1466-447X
- OpenAlex
- W2207598598
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 2.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sports Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Sports Dynamics and Biomechanics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Physical Education and Training Studies
- Keywords
- swimming kinematics, wearable sensors, freestyle swimming, breaststroke, stereophotogrammetry
- MeSH terms
- Kinanthropometry, Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Humans, Joints, Male, Models, Anatomic, Swimming, Range of Motion, Articular, Upper Extremity, Young Adult, Athletes
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