Three-dimensional inertial measurement unit-based analysis of wheelchair racing propulsion using a Sensor-in-Glove System

Authors

  • Kimitomo Taniguchi Department of Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University, Hiroshima, Japan
  • Tatsuru Ibusuki Rehabilitation Department, Akeno Central Hospital, Beppu, Oita, Japan and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
  • Koichi Kawabata Department of Rehabilitation, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care, Wakayama, Japan and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21014/actaimeko.v15i3.2353

Keywords:

wearable sensors, inertial measurement unit (IMU), wheelchair propulsion, three-dimensional acceleration analysis, para-athletics

Abstract

This study proposes the Sensor‑in‑Glove System (SIGS), a field‑deployable method for measuring wheelchair racing propulsion during outdoor sprinting. SIGS synchronises two inertial measurement units (IMUs)—one embedded in a 3D‑printed glove and one mounted on the wheel—to capture push cycle‑wise hand and wheel kinematics. As a proof‑of‑concept validation, six elite athletes performed maximal‑effort 100‑m sprints. SIGS recorded continuous motion data, achieving a displacement‑estimation error of 0.73 % over a 10‑m interval. Propulsion onset and hand release were objectively identified from IMU signals without visual inspection, enabling the push cycle to be divided into mechanically meaningful phases. Newly defined 3D acceleration‑vector metrics revealed individual push styles, and peak resultant acceleration showed strong correlations with wheelchair velocity (r = 0.82–0.95). Class‑wise comparisons demonstrated significant differences in peak acceleration (F = 10.52, p < 0.001), indicating that SIGS captures impairment‑specific push characteristics. As the first field‑based 3D acceleration‑vector analysis using a glove‑embedded IMU, this study shows that SIGS provides a practical and quantitative approach for evaluating propulsion mechanics, and offers opportunities for technique assessment and athlete‑specific performance analysis in wheelchair racing.

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Published

2026-09-22

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 3 (2026)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Kimitomo Taniguchi, Tatsuru Ibusuki, Koichi Kawabata

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