8th International Conference on Body Area Networks

Research Article

Proper Running Posture Guide: A Wearable Biomechanics Capture System

  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/icst.bodynets.2013.253700,
        author={Xiaoyi Zhang and Ming-Chun Huang and Fengbo Ren Ren and Wenyao Xu and Nan Guan and Wang Yi},
        title={Proper Running Posture Guide: A Wearable Biomechanics Capture System},
        proceedings={8th International Conference on Body Area Networks},
        publisher={ICST},
        proceedings_a={BODYNETS},
        year={2013},
        month={10},
        keywords={design measurement running wearable computing motion detection activity recognition},
        doi={10.4108/icst.bodynets.2013.253700}
    }
    
  • Xiaoyi Zhang
    Ming-Chun Huang
    Fengbo Ren Ren
    Wenyao Xu
    Nan Guan
    Wang Yi
    Year: 2013
    Proper Running Posture Guide: A Wearable Biomechanics Capture System
    BODYNETS
    ACM
    DOI: 10.4108/icst.bodynets.2013.253700
Xiaoyi Zhang1,*, Ming-Chun Huang1, Fengbo Ren Ren2, Wenyao Xu3, Nan Guan4, Wang Yi4
  • 1: Computer Science Department, University of California, Los Angeles
  • 2: Electrical Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles
  • 3: Department of Computer Science Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo
  • 4: College of Information Science and Technology, Northeastern University, China
*Contact email: stevezhanggeek@ucla.edu

Abstract

Running is a popular exercise for all age groups. It helps heart and lung functions, enhances muscle strength and control weight. Nevertheless, excessive fatigue and severe injury resulting from inappropriate running poses might reduce the benefits brought by this exercise and stop people from keeping running regularly. In this paper, we design a system that can monitor the running biomechanics, infer running poses, analyze running patterns, and provide both real-time and off-line feedbacks to reduce unnecessary fatigue and unwanted injuries. Common inappropriate running patterns, over-striding, over-pronating and out-sync, are identified and analyzed with the continuous wearable sensor data streams. Two types of correctional feedbacks are designed to provide users appropriate adjustment guidance: vibrating the areas of user body where improper poses are detected and visualizing running video with sensor waveforms to indicate which inappropriate motions trigger the vibration. With reasonable adjustment, running can be a safe and effective activity for a healthy lifestyle.