Sports Biomechanical Information Acquisition and Evaluation for Kayaking Events

Abstract

Intensive understanding of sports biomechanical principles is an essential issue for sprint kayaking. In recent years, the authors have studied the acquisition of biomechanical information and the evaluation of competitive ability on sprint kayaking. In this study, first, an oar force sensor was developed to detect the stroke forces applied by paddler. The sensor was attached to a paddle with minimum mechanical involvement, hence the mechanical properties of the paddle was not changed. Second, an on-water instrument of biomechanical information acquisition was developed to detect stroke force, stroke frequency, stroke power, kayak speed, and acceleration synchronously. Third, 12 evaluation factors for kayaking ability were proposed based on the factor analysis. The 12 factors include (1) the stroke rate; (2) the speed fluctuation; (3 and 4) the hull pose (L/R); (5 and 6) the stroke force (L/R); (7 and 8) the endurance (L/R); (9 and 10) the stroke technique (L/R); (11 and 12) and the stroke rhythm (L/R). Finally, the stroke rate and the forward stoke technique was analyzed briefly.

The Progress of Biomechanical Researches in Kayaking

“…By developing an on-water dynamic measuring equipment, someone built a boat testing system which able to provide kinematic and dynamic parameters, with which information such as force, power, stroke rate, stroke rhythm, boat velocity, acceleration and boat posture could be accessed during on-water training, with these data, several issues about kayaking being discussed, such as strength quality, stroke technique, power producing, power protection and so on [35] [36] [37]. According to above research proposed an evaluation indicator system of kayak competitive capability based on paddle force measurement and analysis.…”

Performance estimation of kayak paddlers based on fluctuation analysis of movement signals

“…The interpretation of a stroke cycle and the analysis of the relationship between technical quality and the shape of acceleration signal (or paddling force signal) have been discussed in several works [3,[7][8][9]. Nevertheless, in most cases it would be very difficult for the coaches to analyze the shape of raw signals.…”

“…Common parameters could be detected from the kayaks motion or further quantities could be measured like heart rate or force in the paddle [1][2][3][4][5]. Unfortunately, estimating the efficiency of performance from the trends of several parameters or from the shape of raw measured data is a quite complex task, and in most cases detailed analysis is too difficult and time consuming for coaches.…”

Can the fluctuations of motion be used to estimate the performance of kayak paddlers?

“…Following the idea of using fluctuations as a diagnostic tool we have introduced noise analysis methods to estimate the performance of kayak paddling [21]. Inertial sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes are used in coaching devices developed for professional kayak paddlers and trainers [22][23][24][25], and the measured quantities and their changes in stroke cycle are used to classify the athletes' performance [26][27][28][29]. In our previous work we have suggested that, since the optimal motion of a kayak can be assumed to be purely periodic, the fluctuations of its period could be an indicator of the quality of paddling [21].…”