Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial Sensors
<b>Background</b>: Wearable inertial sensors are essential tools in biomechanics and sports science for assessing gait in real-world conditions. This study explored gender-based differences in biomechanical walking patterns among healthy Greek athletes using the BTS G-Walk system, focusi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/82 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849343194021494784 |
|---|---|
| author | Elina Gianzina Christos K. Yiannakopoulos Georgios Kalinterakis Spilios Delis Efstathios Chronopoulos |
| author_facet | Elina Gianzina Christos K. Yiannakopoulos Georgios Kalinterakis Spilios Delis Efstathios Chronopoulos |
| author_sort | Elina Gianzina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background</b>: Wearable inertial sensors are essential tools in biomechanics and sports science for assessing gait in real-world conditions. This study explored gender-based differences in biomechanical walking patterns among healthy Greek athletes using the BTS G-Walk system, focusing on key gait parameters to inform gender-specific training and rehabilitation strategies. <b>Methods</b>: Ninety-five healthy athletes (55 men, 40 women), aged 18 to 30 years, participated in this study. Each athlete performed a standardized 14 m walk while 17 biomechanical gait parameters were recorded using the BTS G-Walk inertial sensor. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS to assess gender differences and left–right foot symmetry. <b>Results</b>: No significant asymmetry was found between the left and right feet for most gait parameters. Men exhibited longer stride lengths (left: <i>p</i> = 0.005, Cohen’s d = 0.61; right: <i>p</i> = 0.009, Cohen’s d = 0.53) and longer stride and gait cycle durations (left: <i>p</i> = 0.025, Cohen’s d = 0.52; right: <i>p</i> = 0.025, Cohen’s d = 0.53). Women showed a higher cadence (<i>p</i> = 0.022, Cohen’s d = −0.52) and greater propulsion index (left: <i>p</i> = 0.001, Cohen’s d = −0.71; right: <i>p</i> = 0.001, Cohen’s d = −0.73), as well as a higher percentage of first double support (<i>p</i> = 0.030, Cohen’s d = −0.44). <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings highlight the impact of biological and biomechanical differences on walking patterns, emphasizing the need for gender-specific training and rehabilitation. The BTS G-Walk system proved reliable for gait analysis, with potential for optimizing performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation in athletes. Future research should explore larger, more diverse populations with multi-sensor setups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f6be7035dbd459eae490d0902981eab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2411-5142 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f6be7035dbd459eae490d0902981eab2025-08-20T03:43:09ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-02-011018210.3390/jfmk10010082Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial SensorsElina Gianzina0Christos K. Yiannakopoulos1Georgios Kalinterakis2Spilios Delis3Efstathios Chronopoulos4School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17232 Athens, GreeceSchool of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17232 Athens, GreeceSchool of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17232 Athens, GreeceSchool of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17232 Athens, GreeceSecond Department of Orthopaedics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece<b>Background</b>: Wearable inertial sensors are essential tools in biomechanics and sports science for assessing gait in real-world conditions. This study explored gender-based differences in biomechanical walking patterns among healthy Greek athletes using the BTS G-Walk system, focusing on key gait parameters to inform gender-specific training and rehabilitation strategies. <b>Methods</b>: Ninety-five healthy athletes (55 men, 40 women), aged 18 to 30 years, participated in this study. Each athlete performed a standardized 14 m walk while 17 biomechanical gait parameters were recorded using the BTS G-Walk inertial sensor. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS to assess gender differences and left–right foot symmetry. <b>Results</b>: No significant asymmetry was found between the left and right feet for most gait parameters. Men exhibited longer stride lengths (left: <i>p</i> = 0.005, Cohen’s d = 0.61; right: <i>p</i> = 0.009, Cohen’s d = 0.53) and longer stride and gait cycle durations (left: <i>p</i> = 0.025, Cohen’s d = 0.52; right: <i>p</i> = 0.025, Cohen’s d = 0.53). Women showed a higher cadence (<i>p</i> = 0.022, Cohen’s d = −0.52) and greater propulsion index (left: <i>p</i> = 0.001, Cohen’s d = −0.71; right: <i>p</i> = 0.001, Cohen’s d = −0.73), as well as a higher percentage of first double support (<i>p</i> = 0.030, Cohen’s d = −0.44). <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings highlight the impact of biological and biomechanical differences on walking patterns, emphasizing the need for gender-specific training and rehabilitation. The BTS G-Walk system proved reliable for gait analysis, with potential for optimizing performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation in athletes. Future research should explore larger, more diverse populations with multi-sensor setups.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/82inertial sensorbiomechanical datagait analysisgender difference |
| spellingShingle | Elina Gianzina Christos K. Yiannakopoulos Georgios Kalinterakis Spilios Delis Efstathios Chronopoulos Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial Sensors Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology inertial sensor biomechanical data gait analysis gender difference |
| title | Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial Sensors |
| title_full | Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial Sensors |
| title_fullStr | Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial Sensors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial Sensors |
| title_short | Gender-Based Differences in Biomechanical Walking Patterns of Athletes Using Inertial Sensors |
| title_sort | gender based differences in biomechanical walking patterns of athletes using inertial sensors |
| topic | inertial sensor biomechanical data gait analysis gender difference |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/82 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elinagianzina genderbaseddifferencesinbiomechanicalwalkingpatternsofathletesusinginertialsensors AT christoskyiannakopoulos genderbaseddifferencesinbiomechanicalwalkingpatternsofathletesusinginertialsensors AT georgioskalinterakis genderbaseddifferencesinbiomechanicalwalkingpatternsofathletesusinginertialsensors AT spiliosdelis genderbaseddifferencesinbiomechanicalwalkingpatternsofathletesusinginertialsensors AT efstathioschronopoulos genderbaseddifferencesinbiomechanicalwalkingpatternsofathletesusinginertialsensors |