Inertial measurement system for performance evaluation of track and field sprinters

Instantaneous horizontal velocity is the most important factor influencing on sprint performance in track and field. It can be either determined directly by radar or derived as a product of step length and step frequency. The second approach also helps to enhance the biomechanics of sprinting. This paper presents a low-cost wireless framework containing an inertial measurement unit. The developed system derives information about step parameters from an accelerometer and a gyroscope measurement results and fulfills a real-time analysis of sprinter´s activity. The on-body unit is mounted on the low back and doesn´t impact on the running style, in contrast to foot-mounted sensors. The developed system doesn´t require a time-consuming installation and can be applied during daily workouts.