Additional Funding Sources

The project described was supported by a student grant from the UI Office of Undergraduate Research.

Abstract

Many wearable devices have been validated in assessing temporospatial variables during running; however, it remains speculative as to the agreement of leg stiffness (Kleg) estimations with validated technology. Purpose: To assess the agreeability between two wearable devices in estimating Kleg during treadmill running. Research Question: Do two different wearable devices agree in estimating Kleg during a graded exercise test (GXT) on a treadmill? Methods: Seven endurance-trained male runners (28.5 ± 11.5 y; m 74.7 ± 7.1 kg; ht. 182.0 cm ± 6.4 cm; VO2max 57.5 ± 5.7 ml/kg/min) were recruited. Participants performed a GXT on two separate occasions. The first three stages of the GXT were used to assess Kleg, where participants ran at 3.13, 3.58, and 4.02 m/s and 1% incline. Data were sampled for 3 minutes during each stage via a Garmin Fenix 3 watch with a chest-mounted accelerometer (Garmin™ HRM-Run), and RunScribe™ pods mounted on the dorsum of each foot and the waistband above the sacrum. The agreeability of the wearables at each stage was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analyses. One-sample t-tests and linear regressions were used to assess systematic and proportional biases at each stage with α=0.05. Results: Overall, there was no significant difference in Kleg between the two devices (p = 0.969). Bland-Altman plots indicated no significant systematic bias (mean difference 0.014 kN/m, 95% CI [-0.70 to 0.73]). Conclusion: Given the lack of agreement between the two devices, more research needs to be done assessing Kleg using the RunScribe devices.

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Comparison of Wearable Devices in Assessing Leg Stiffness During Treadmill Running

Many wearable devices have been validated in assessing temporospatial variables during running; however, it remains speculative as to the agreement of leg stiffness (Kleg) estimations with validated technology. Purpose: To assess the agreeability between two wearable devices in estimating Kleg during treadmill running. Research Question: Do two different wearable devices agree in estimating Kleg during a graded exercise test (GXT) on a treadmill? Methods: Seven endurance-trained male runners (28.5 ± 11.5 y; m 74.7 ± 7.1 kg; ht. 182.0 cm ± 6.4 cm; VO2max 57.5 ± 5.7 ml/kg/min) were recruited. Participants performed a GXT on two separate occasions. The first three stages of the GXT were used to assess Kleg, where participants ran at 3.13, 3.58, and 4.02 m/s and 1% incline. Data were sampled for 3 minutes during each stage via a Garmin Fenix 3 watch with a chest-mounted accelerometer (Garmin™ HRM-Run), and RunScribe™ pods mounted on the dorsum of each foot and the waistband above the sacrum. The agreeability of the wearables at each stage was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analyses. One-sample t-tests and linear regressions were used to assess systematic and proportional biases at each stage with α=0.05. Results: Overall, there was no significant difference in Kleg between the two devices (p = 0.969). Bland-Altman plots indicated no significant systematic bias (mean difference 0.014 kN/m, 95% CI [-0.70 to 0.73]). Conclusion: Given the lack of agreement between the two devices, more research needs to be done assessing Kleg using the RunScribe devices.

 

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