Reliability of Xsens IMU-Based Lower Extremity Joint Angles during In-Field Running

The Xsens Link motion capture suit has become a popular tool in investigating 3D running kinematics based on wearable inertial measurement units outside of the laboratory. In this study, we investigated the reliability of Xsens-based lower extremity joint angles during unconstrained running on stable (asphalt) and unstable (woodchip) surfaces within and between five different testing days in a group of 17 recreational runners (8 female, 9 male). Specifically, we determined the within-day and between-day intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and minimal detectable changes (MDCs) with respect to discrete ankle, knee, and hip joint angles. When comparing runs within the same day, the investigated Xsens-based joint angles generally showed good to excellent reliability (median ICCs > 0.9). Between-day reliability was generally lower than the within-day estimates: Initial hip, knee, and ankle angles in the sagittal plane showed good reliability (median ICCs > 0.88), while ankle and hip angles in the frontal plane showed only poor to moderate reliability (median ICCs 0.38-0.83). The results were largely unaffected by the surface. In conclusion, within-day adaptations in lower-extremity running kinematics can be captured with the Xsens Link system. Our data on between-day reliability suggest caution when trying to capture longitudinal adaptations, specifically for ankle and hip joint angles in the frontal plane.