title: Accelerometry-based feedback--can it improve movement consistency and performance in rowing?
abstract: The training and competition regimen of elite athletes demands rapid feedback about their performance. The aim of this study was to determine if real-time visual ipsative (comparison with oneself) feedback of instantaneous kinematic consistency improves overall kinematic consistency in rowing. Accelerometry-based data, representing the upper and lower body kinematics, were determined for 13 experienced rowers. Kinematic consistency data -- represented by percentage time outside the acceptable performance bandwidth, performance consistency -- represented by power-stroke dispersion, and several performance indicators were acquired for all the rowers for three 2000 m time trials on a RowPerfect ergometer with three different visual feedback interventions: no feedback, detailed feedback, and summary feedback. Results indicated significantly increased performance consistency for detailed feedback than for both no feedback (p < 0.01) and summary feedback (p < 0.05). No significant difference between summary feedback and no feedback was found (p = 0.173). We deemed feedback of detailed information to enhance kinematic consistency significantly more than both no feedback (p < 0.01) and summary feedback (p < 0.01) interventions, although summary feedback was shown to enhance kinematic consistency more than no feedback (p < 0.01). No improvements were found for performance-related parameters.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics Research Unit, College of Science, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Gerard M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016552:Ergometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis