Comparison of Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and threshold velocities with biomechanical parameters determined from motion sensors´ signals during running

Abstract

This thesis work touches on a variety of phenomena, which affect motion activity, such as physiological and kinematic. The understanding of these parameters and their interrelationships not only contributes to measuring individuals’ endurance, level of fatigue, and gait patterns, but also enables to develop own exercising programs to improve athletic performance or rehabilitation process. The work is based on the large-scale biomedical project conducted by the University of Oulu. This was a comprehensive study with numerous types of raw data performed using wearable sensors and respiratory equipment. However, only a small part of datasets is utilized in the statistical analysis.

Research objectives: The objectives are to identify and pinpoint parameters strongly correlated with the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), and to identify and pinpoint parameters that indicate significant changes at Ventilatory Threshold Speed (VTS).

The obtained results display the biomechanical parameters that are less correlated and highly correlated. By utilizing the strong interdependence between parameters, it can be inferred how a related parameter will behave when changes occur in another. This finding can be used to improve the motion pattern activity, increase endurance or develop a training plan.