At the Biomedical Signals and Systems research group, associate professor Jasper Reenalda studies how to improve running technique with sensor technology. For her graduation project, Femke Hoekstra, a Biomedical Engineering student, uses sensors on my legs and torso to measure what forces are acting on my body. How much force do my muscles deliver, and what changes when exhaustion kicks in? That’s when most injuries strike. This process is called a biomechanical analysis of running.
Can all this be measured wirelessly?
I look like a futuristic runner, covered with sensors and patches. But Reenalda’s goal is clear: in the future, your smartwatch could give you feedback on how to run injury-free. Imagine a future where you don’t need a full motion-tracking suit. Just a sports watch or smartwatch with a heart rate monitor, and perhaps an extra ankle sensor would be enough.
We’re not there yet. But this research could pave the way for smart running sensors and recovery tech that improve performance, track VO2max, and detect injuries sooner. This makes running safer, smarter and more fun.
