Design of Device for Measuring the Load of Cross-Country Ski Poles

摘要

Monitoring of physical activity allows the optimization of physical exercise and sports performance. Currently, there are a number of wearable devices designed to measure the acceleration of body segments. However, there are only a small number of experimental systems for evaluation of load and movement of cross-country skiing and Nordic Walking poles. The system proposed in the article allows to measure the force which user is applying on the pole, the pole linear and angular acceleration and the tilt of the pole. The system uses a pair of strain gauge bridges and inertial measurement unit mounted on each pole. The measured data are subsequently processed by the capturing and recording unit, transmitted via Wi-Fi interface and stored on an integrated SD card. Developed software allows analysis of the determined quantities including poling detection. The verification measurement has shown the usability of the system for assessing biomechanical parameters, particularly with regard to the evaluation of training methods and running styles for cross-country skiing and Nordic running. The limitation of the proposed system is the disruption of the structural integrity of the pole due to the bonding of the strain gauge bridges and the associated greater susceptibility to damage in the event of extreme load, e.g. in top sports.