Validation of an Automatic Inertial Sensor-Based Methodology for Detailed Barbell Velocity Monitoring during Maximal Paralympic Bench Press

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 22; no. 24; p. 9904
• Main Authors: Rum, Lorenzo, Sciarra, Tommaso, Balletti, Nicoletta, Lazich, Aldo, Bergamini, Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 16.12.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Acceleration; Accelerometers; Adult; Algorithms; barbell velocity; bench press; Cameras; Data collection; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Inertial platforms; inertial sensor; Kinematics; Methodology; Methods; Monitoring; Muscle Strength; Open source software; Paralympic powerlifting; Physical training; Reference systems; Reliability analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Resistance Training - methods; Sensors; strength training; Velocity; Velocity distribution; Weight training; barbell velocity; strength training; inertial sensor; Paralympic powerlifting; bench press
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s22249904

Current technologies based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) are considered valid and reliable tools for monitoring barbell velocity in strength training. However, the extracted outcomes are often limited to a few velocity metrics, such as mean or maximal velocity. This study aimed at validating a single IMU-based methodology to automatically obtain the barbell velocity full profile as well as key performance metrics during maximal Paralympic bench press. Seven Paralympic powerlifters (age: 30.5 ± 4.3 years, sitting height: 71.6 ± 6.8 cm, body mass: 72.5 ± 16.4 kg, one-repetition maximum: 148.4 ± 38.6 kg) performed four attempts of maximal Paralympic bench press. The barbell velocity profile and relevant metrics were automatically obtained from IMU linear acceleration through a custom-made algorithm and validated against a video-based reference system. The mean difference between devices was 0.00 ± 0.04 m·s−1 with low limits of agreement (<0.09 m·s−1) and moderate-to-good reliability (ICC: 0.55−0.90). Linear regression analysis showed large-to-very large associations between paired measurements (r: 0.57−0.91, p < 0.003; SEE: 0.02−0.06 m·s−1). The analysis of velocity curves showed a high spatial similarity and small differences between devices. The proposed methodology provided a good level of agreement, making it suitable for different applications in barbell velocity monitoring during maximal Paralympic bench press.