Concurrent validity of an easy-to-use inertial measurement unit-system to evaluate sagittal plane segment kinematics during overground sprinting at different speeds

This study investigated concurrent validity of inertial measurement units (IMUs) and high-speed video for sagittal plane kinematics during overground sprinting. The practical relevance is demonstrated by reporting the changes in thigh kinematics in relation to toe-off and touch-down of the feet at near maximal to maximal (80-100%) speeds. Sixteen athletes ran multiple 60 m sprints with IMUs on their feet, shanks, thighs, pelvis and trunk. High-speed video data were captured of the start strides and of one complete stride at full speed. Coefficients of multiple correlation with video were >0.99 for angles and angular velocities of the thigh and shank but low for the pelvis and trunk (0.13-0.66). For the limb segment angles (minimum, maximum, at toe-off and at touch-down) absolute biases (limits of agreement) were ≤2.9°(≤7.7°) and for angular velocities the values were ≤57°.s-1(≤93°.s-1). Many of the expected speed-related changes in thigh kinematics were significant (linear mixed effect regression; p < 0.05).In conclusion, an easy-to-use IMU system has good concurrent validity with video, especially for the thigh. It registers the kinematics of all strides in multiple sprints and can detect relatively small changes thereof, including those at key moments of foot-touch-down and toe-off.