Validation of Instrumented Insoles for Measuring Height in Vertical Jump

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to validate a new instrumented insole called ECnsole for measuring flight time during vertical jump performance. 66 participants performed 3 different jump tests (squat jump, countermovement jump and Abalakov jump) twice with flight times determined using an instrumented insole composed of 4 pressure sensors (PreECnsole) and an accelerometer sensor (AccECnsole), a laser platform (Sport Jump System Pro), and a high-speed motion capture system (HSC); the latter 2 systems are considered as reference methods. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), simple linear regression, and the Bland-Altman method were used to assess validity. Regardless of the jump test performed, the ECnsole system showed a systematic bias close to 0 and a low random error (average random error: ?2.8?cm; ?3.1?cm PreECnsole and AccECnsole vs. HSC system respectively and ??2.3?cm; ?2.9?cm PreECnsole and AccECnsole vs. SJS system respectively). The associations between PreECnsole and AccECnsole with the HSC were very high (R2=0.967 and 0.958 respectively). Furthermore, the associations between PreECnsole and AccECnsole with the SJS were very high (R2=0.978 and 0.966 respectively) as well. Therefore, the ECnsole system can be considered an alternative method for measuring jump height during vertical jump performance.

Acute Effects of Muscular Fatigue on Vertical Jump Performance in Acrobatic Gymnasts, Evaluated by Instrumented Insoles: A Pilot Study

“…During the current study, a version of an instrumented insoles previously developed by the research group was used, called ECnsole, shown in Figure 1 [12,18]. The instrumented insoles contained four pressure sensors Flexiforce A401 (Tekscan, South Boston, MA, USA) located at the big toe, first and fifth metatarsal heads, and the heel.…”

“…Fatigue can be evaluated by quantifying maximal voluntary force, maximal voluntary shortening velocity, or power [11]. The height of a vertical jump, especially in the countermovement jump (CMJ), is commonly used to evaluate the legs muscular power [12] and to detect neuromuscular fatigue [13]. In addition, vertical jump has been used in several studies investigating the recovery time after fatigue interventions; however, further research is needed to elucidate the most relevant variables to analyze fatigue when the vertical jumps are employed [11].…”

“…We are referring to minimally invasive systems capable to provide information from multiple sensors for a more complete assessment of jumping. In fact, the purpose of this investigation was to obtain data that could provide information about acute effects of muscular fatigue on vertical jumping performance in acrobatic gymnasts with the least influence in this performance by using an instrumented insole designed by our research group [12]. The authors hypothesised that an increase of external load would change jumping performance during a typical Bosco protocol [16] in acrobatic gymnasts.…”

Plantar Pressure Changes and Their Relationships with Low Back Pain during Pregnancy Using Instrumented Insoles

“…A low-cost instrumented insole system designed by our research group was used ( Figure 1) for the dynamic pressure measurements. Our system was previously validated as a pressure-measuring instrument [39] using a commercial system, F-Scan (Tekscan, South Boston, MA, USA) and as a time-measuring system of physical activity in comparison with two gold standards [40]. With the aim of simplicity, each insole comprised a flexible polymeric film supporting a total of four piezoresistive pressure sensors located at the heads of the first and fifth metatarsals, at the first toe, and at the heel.…”

“…In addition, the information collected from the sensors was processed in a datalogger fastened at the waist. More technical details of the instrumented insole system can be read elsewhere [39,40].…”