Activity Identification, Classification, and Representation of Wheelchair Sport Court Tasks: A Method Proposal

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Monitoring wheelchair sports player mobility is vital for optimizing training.
• Current tools lack sufficient data, standardization, and effective presentation, limiting practical use.
• A need exists for accessible methods to analyze wheelchair movement dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and efficient algorithm for identifying wheelchair locomotor tasks.
• To utilize kinematic data from standard wheelchair mobility tests for analysis.
• To enhance the understanding of activity dynamics in wheelchair sports.

Main Methods:

• Inertial measurement units (IMUs) were placed on wheelchairs (wheels and frame).
• 36 wheelchair tennis and badminton players performed standardized mobility tests (star, figure-of-eight, forward/backward).
• A five-step procedure involving data reduction, symbolic approximation, and pattern searching was used to identify tasks.

Main Results:

• The algorithm achieved high accuracy in identifying locomotor tasks: 99% for the star test, 95% for the figure-of-eight test, and 100% for the forward/backward test.
• Successful classification of static, propulsion, and rotation movements was demonstrated.
• The method proved effective across different wheelchair mobility tests.

Conclusions:

• The proposed algorithm provides a valuable tool for clear and simple identification of wheelchair locomotor tasks.
• This method facilitates the representation of movement patterns over time.
• Future applications include analysis during wheelchair sports matches and daily activities.