Journal article 1446 views 47 downloads
Assessing real-world movements using consumer-grade wearable devices: Measuring segment orientations and movement quality
,
Samuel Manzano-Carrasco,
Kelly Mackintosh
Wearable Technologies, Volume: 6
Swansea University Authors:
Alex Swain, Melitta McNarry , Kelly Mackintosh
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© The Author(s), 2025. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1017/wtc.2025.10034
Abstract
In recent years, there has been growing interest regarding the impact of human movement quality on health. However, assessing movement quality outside of laboratories or clinics remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the capabilities of consumer-grade wearables to assess movement quality...
| Published in: | Wearable Technologies |
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| ISSN: | 2631-7176 |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70731 |
| Abstract: |
In recent years, there has been growing interest regarding the impact of human movement quality on health. However, assessing movement quality outside of laboratories or clinics remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the capabilities of consumer-grade wearables to assess movement quality and to consider optimal sensor locations. Twenty-two participants wore Polar Verity Sense magnetic, angular rate, and gravity (MARG) sensors on their chest and both wrists, thighs, and ankles, while performing repeated bodyweight movements. The Madgwick sensor-fusion algorithm was utilized to obtain three-dimensional orientations. Concurrent validity, quantified using the root-mean-square-error (RMSE), was established against a Vicon optical motion capture system following time-synchronization and coordinate-system alignment. The chest sensors demonstrated the highest accuracies overall, with mean RMSE ( RMSEmean ) less than 9.0° across all movements. In contrast, the wrist sensors varied considerably ( 5.5∘≤RMSEmean≤139.1∘ ). Ankle and thigh sensors yielded mixed results, with the RMSEmean ranging from 2.0° to 40.0°. Notably, yaw angles consistently demonstrated higher discrepancies overall, while pitch and roll were relatively more stable. This study highlights the potential of consumer-grade MARG sensors to increase the real-world applicability and accessibility of complex biomechanical models. It also accentuates the requirement for strategic sensor placement and refined calibration and postprocessing methods to ensure accuracy. |
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| Keywords: |
wearable technology; IMU; motion capture; motor skills; exercise; physical activity |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Polar Electro Oy |