How I use Gadgets to monitor your progress

One of the challenges in Sports Physiotherapy is on how you can get accurate data, and furthermore, how you can get accurate data when the athlete is not in front of you. I have been using objective measures for strength, range of motion, ground forces, speed etc, for almost my entire career as a sports physiotherapist and when I started Sports Physio Online, I was determined to continue using objective measures for assessments and outcome measures.

There are now a number of excellent wearables that allow me to continue to monitor athletes accurately and determine whether there are improving and performing well. As part of my approach to sports physiotherapy, I recommend a number of wearables for clients and each one has a specific value.

Garmin GPS enabled watches

Although most triathletes now are familiar with the Garmin or Suunto ranges of watches and cycling computers, it is important to note some of the specific differences and how they can be used in the load monitoring context. For example, a few years ago Garmin introduced the advanced running dynamics for the 620 Forerunner. Before this watch, stats such as contact times and balance was rare, if not impossible to find. I previously relied on expensive running lab equipments (a force plate treadmill) to give me this data.

Why was this so important? Well the studies examining running economy showed that this value was the most reliable at predicting how efficient a runner was. Contact time also changes over time when factors such as fatigue set in (contact times usually increase with fatigue) and is an immensely valuably statistic when training the injured runner.

What I have learnt when utilising the force plate and the Garmin advanced statistics is that I can now match up a specific outcome in the lab, with something that each runner can use everyday. For example, if a specific runner has excellent balance and contact times with a set cadence, I can then match up those stats with the Garmin and get the athlete to practice this every time they run. Further, I can re-test them at a later stage to see if those values are valid.

So what else can be tested?
Another exciting development in the wearable technologies field is the ability to test ground reaction forces during running. Using a device called a ViMove, I can place sensors on the shin bones (tibia) of a runner and see how much force is placed on that limb each foot strike. Suddenly the limitations of using a force plated treadmill are removed and I have tested runners outdoors with in their normal training environments (even on 20 km runs). I can see how fatigue affects runners, how different gradients, shoes, running styles and surfaces all influence them