Use of accelerometers and inertial measurement units to quantify movement of tactical athletes: A systematic review

Nathan A Edwards; Maria K Talarico; Ajit Chaudhari; Cody J Mansfield; James Oñate

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2023.103991

Use of accelerometers and inertial measurement units to quantify movement of tactical athletes: A systematic review

Appl Ergon. 2023 May:109:103991. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.103991. Epub 2023 Feb 24.

Authors

Nathan A Edwards¹, Maria K Talarico², Ajit Chaudhari³, Cody J Mansfield⁴, James Oñate⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, 453 W 10th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Human Performance Collaborative, The Ohio State University, 1961 Tuttle Park Place, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Sports Medicine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 4835 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Human Systems Integration Division, DEVCOM Analysis Center, U.S. Army Futures Command, 7188 Sustainment Rd, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21005, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, 453 W 10th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Sports Medicine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 4835 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 140 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, 453 W 10th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Sports Medicine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 4835 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, 453 W 10th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Human Performance Collaborative, The Ohio State University, 1961 Tuttle Park Place, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Division of Athletic Training, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, 453 W 10th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Sports Medicine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 4835 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 36841096
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.103991

Abstract

The dynamic work environments of tactical athletes are difficult to replicate in a laboratory. Accelerometers and inertial measurement units provide a way to characterize movement in the field. This systematic review identified how accelerometers and inertial measurement units are currently being used to quantify movement patterns of tactical athletes. Seven research and military databases were searched, producing 26,228 potential articles with 78 articles included in this review. The articles studied military personnel (73.1%), firefighters (19.2%), paramedics (3.8%), and law enforcement officers (3.8%). Accelerometers were the most used type of sensor, and physical activity was the primarily reported outcome variable. Seventy of the studies had fair or poor quality. Research on firefighters, emergency medical services, and law enforcement officers was limited. Future research should strive to make quantified movement data more accessible and user-friendly for non-research personnel, thereby prompting increased use in tactical athlete groups, especially first responder agencies.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Human movement; Wearable sensors.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Review

MeSH terms

Accelerometry*
Emergency Responders*
Firefighters
Humans
Military Personnel*
Motor Activity*
Movement
Paramedics
Police