When most people think of the Microsoft Kinect, they think of it as a way to control video games. The revolutionary device is able to detect a person’s body movements and use the movements to control on-screen games. However, did you know that the Kinect can also help your running?
A recent study used the Kinect device and specialized software to analyze runners’ movements and send audio feedback to them. This feedback allowed the runners to correct their running technique in real-time. The researchers programmed the software to look at three different running technique factors:
- The tilt angle of the upper body. The software analyzed whether a runner’s body was tilted forward while running. This is important because, if the upper body is tilted backwards when running, the pull of gravity could slow a runner down.
- The distance between the landing foot and runner’s center of gravity. The software analyzed the stride of a runner to check for any possible over-striding or under-striding. If a runner over-strides, it can slow the runner down by representing an opposing force to forward movement. If a runner under-strides, it can cause a runner to lose his or her balance. Therefore, if a runner’s foot is in front of or behind his center of mass, the Kinect software would alert him in real-time.
- The vertical displacement of the runner’s center of gravity. It is important for runners to minimize their vertical motion – all energy should be spent moving forward, not upward. Minimizing vertical lift when running also reduces the risk of injury by lowering the impact stress on the legs and feet.
The authors of the Kinect study found that runners could effectively alter their running motion in accordance with the audio cues from the Kinect software. Although the idea of using a Kinect to analyze running motion is still in its early stages, it appears that it could be a promising training tool in the future.
