The Validity and Reliability of a Real-Time Biofeedback System for Lumbopelvic Control Training in Baseball Players

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 24; no. 10; p. 3060
• Main Authors: Wang, Shiu-Min, Jiang, Po-Hsien, Chan, Kuei-Yuan, Hsu, Wei-Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Baseball; Baseball - physiology; Baseball players; Biofeedback; Biofeedback training; Biofeedback, Psychology - methods; Biomechanics; Data collection; Humans; inertial measurement units; lumbopelvic control; Lumbosacral Region - physiology; Male; Motion capture; pelvic angle; Pelvis - physiology; Reproducibility of Results; Software; Training; Validity; Young Adult; baseball; lumbopelvic control; inertial measurement units; pelvic angle
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s24103060

Background: This study validates real-time biofeedback for lumbopelvic control training in baseball. The lumbopelvic region is crucial for generating kinetic energy in pitching. Real-time biofeedback enhances training effectiveness and reduces injury risk. The validity and reliability of this system were examined. Purpose: This study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the real-time biofeedback system for lumbopelvic control training. Methods: Twelve baseball players participated in this study, with data collected in two sessions separated by a week. All participants needed to do the lateral slide exercise and single-leg squat exercise in each session. Pelvic angles detected by the real-time biofeedback system were compared to the three-dimensional motion capture system (VICON) during training sessions. Additionally, pelvic angles measured by the biofeedback system were compared between the two training sessions. Results: The real-time biofeedback system exhibited moderate to strong correlations with VICON in both exercises: lateral slide exercise (r = 0.66–0.88, p < 0.05) and single-leg squat exercise (r = 0.70–0.85, p < 0.05). Good to excellent reliability was observed between the first and second sessions for both exercises: lateral slide exercise (ICC = 0.76–0.97) and single-leg squat exercise (ICC = 0.79–0.90). Conclusions: The real-time biofeedback system for lumbopelvic control training, accurately providing the correct pelvic angle during training, could enhance training effectiveness.