Body-positive computing as a means to counteract normative biases in fitness trackers

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 34-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katta Spiel
Keyword(s):  
Body Positive ◽  
Positive Computing ◽  
Fitness Trackers

scholarly journals Effect of Uphill Running on VO2, Heart Rate and Lactate Accumulation on Lower Body Positive Pressure Treadmills

Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Daniel Fleckenstein ◽  
Olaf Ueberschär ◽  
Jan C. Wüstenfeld ◽  
Peter Rüdrich ◽  
Bernd Wolfarth
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Weight Support ◽  
Positive Pressure ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Lactate Accumulation ◽  
Biomechanical Stress ◽  
Lower Body Positive Pressure ◽  
Weight Support ◽  
Body Positive

Lower body positive pressure treadmills (LBPPTs) as a strategy to reduce musculoskeletal load are becoming more common as part of sports conditioning, although the requisite physiological parameters are unclear. To elucidate their role, ten well-trained runners (30.2 ± 3.4 years; VO2max: 60.3 ± 4.2 mL kg−1 min−1) ran at 70% of their individual velocity at VO2max (vVO2max) on a LBPPT at 80% body weight support (80% BWSet) and 90% body weight support (90% BWSet), at 0%, 2% and 7% incline. Oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR) and blood lactate accumulation (LA) were monitored. It was found that an increase in incline led to increased VO2 values of 6.8 ± 0.8 mL kg−1 min−1 (0% vs. 7%, p < 0.001) and 5.4 ± 0.8 mL kg−1 min−1 (2% vs. 7%, p < 0.001). Between 80% BWSet and 90% BWSet, there were VO2 differences of 3.3 ± 0.2 mL kg−1 min−1 (p < 0.001). HR increased with incline by 12 ± 2 bpm (0% vs. 7%, p < 0.05) and 10 ± 2 bpm (2% vs. 7%, p < 0.05). From 80% BWSet to 90% BWSet, HR increases of 6 ± 1 bpm (p < 0.001) were observed. Additionally, LA values showed differences of 0.10 ± 0.02 mmol l−1 between 80% BWSet and 90% BWSet. Those results suggest that on a LBPPT, a 2% incline (at 70% vVO2max) is not yet sufficient to produce significant physiological changes in VO2, HR and LA—as opposed to running on conventional treadmills, where significant changes are measured. However, a 7% incline increases VO2 and HR significantly. Bringing together physiological and biomechanical factors from previous studies into this practical context, it appears that a 7% incline (at 80% BWSet) may be used to keep VO2 and HR load unchanged as compared to unsupported running, while biomechanical stress is substantially reduced.

scholarly journals Gamified Wearable Fitness Tracker for Physical Activity: A Comprehensive Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7017
Author(s):  
Inje Cho ◽  
Kyriaki Kaplanidou ◽  
Shintaro Sato
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Point Of Interest ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Fitness Tracker ◽  
Fitness Trackers ◽  
Sustainable Health

Recently, gamified wearable fitness trackers have received greater attention and usage among sport consumers. Although a moderate amount of aerobic physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of many serious illnesses, physical inactivity issues are still prominent. Although wearable fitness trackers have the potential to contribute to physical activity engagement and sustainable health outcomes, there are dwindling engagement and discontinuance issues. Thus, examining its gamification elements and role in physical activity becomes critical. This study examined the gamification elements in wearable fitness trackers and their role in physical activity and sports engagement. A comprehensive literature review yielded 26 articles that empirically measured a variety of gamification features and the effect of the device on physical activity and sports engagement. The study suggests three key gamification themes: goal-based, social-based, and rewards-based gamification that can be a point of interest for future scholars and practitioners. Based on the review, we propose a conceptual framework that embraces motivational affordances and engagement in physical activity and sports.

scholarly journals Analysis of 3-D Kinematics Using H-Gait System during Walking on a Lower Body Positive Pressure Treadmill

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2619
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Kataoka ◽  
Ryo Takeda ◽  
Shigeru Tadano ◽  
Tomoya Ishida ◽  
Yuki Saito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motion Analysis ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Positive Pressure ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Lower Body Positive Pressure ◽  
Gait Kinematics ◽  
Peak Knee ◽  
Body Positive

Recently, treadmills equipped with a lower-body positive-pressure (LBPP) device have been developed to provide precise body weight support (BWS) during walking. Since lower limbs are covered in a waist-high chamber of an LBPP treadmill, a conventional motion analysis using an optical method is impossible to evaluate gait kinematics on LBPP. We have developed a wearable-sensor-based three-dimensional motion analysis system, H-Gait. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of BWS by a LBPP treadmill on gait kinematics using an H-Gait system. Twenty-five healthy subjects walked at 2.5 km/h on a LBPP treadmill under the following three conditions: (1) 0%BWS, (2) 25%BWS and (3) 50%BWS conditions. Acceleration and angular velocity from seven wearable sensors were used to analyze lower limb kinematics during walking. BWS significantly decreased peak angles of hip adduction, knee adduction and ankle dorsiflexion. In particular, the peak knee adduction angle at the 50%BWS significantly decreased compared to at the 25%BWS (p = 0.012) or 0%BWS (p < 0.001). The present study showed that H-Gait system can detect the changes in gait kinematics in response to BWS by a LBPP treadmill and provided a useful clinical application of the H-Gait system to walking exercises.

Hemodynamic and hormonal effects of prolonged anti-G suit inflation in humans

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 977-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Geelen ◽  
P. Arbeille ◽  
J. L. Saumet ◽  
J. M. Cottet-Emard ◽  
F. Patat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Plasma Renin Activity ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Renin Activity ◽  
Positive Pressure ◽  
Plasma Norepinephrine ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Lower Body Positive Pressure ◽  
Body Positive

This study examined the hemodynamic consequences of prolonged lower body positive-pressure application and their relationship to changes in the plasma concentration of the major vasoactive hormones. Six men [36 +/- 2 (SE) yr] underwent 30 min of sitting and then 3 h of 70 degrees head-up tilt. An antigravity suit was applied (60 Torr legs, 30 Torr abdomen) during the last 2 h of tilt. In a similar noninflation experiment, the endocrine responses were measured in the suited subjects tilted for 3 h. Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to calculate ventricular volume and cardiac output. Measurements were made 30 min before and 30 and 90 min after inflation. Immediately after inflation, mean arterial pressure increased by 7 +/- 2 Torr and heart rate decreased by 16 +/- 4 beats/min. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume and systolic volume increased significantly (P less than 0.05) at 30 and 90 min of inflation. Cardiac output increased after 30 min of inflation and returned to the preinflation level at 90 min. Plasma norepinephrine and plasma renin activity were maximally suppressed after 15 and 90 min of inflation, respectively (P less than 0.05). No such hormonal changes occurred during control. Plasma sodium, potassium, and osmolality remained unchanged during both experiments. Thus, prolonged application of lower body positive pressure induces 1) a transient increase in cardiac output and 2) a marked and sustained decrease in plasma norepinephrine and plasma renin activity, which reflect an inflation-induced decrease in sympathetic activity.

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