FootStriker: an EMS-based assistance system for real-time running style correction

Abstract

Today, ambitioned amateur athletes often do not have access to professional coaching but still invest great effort in becoming faster runners. Apart from a pure increase in the quantitative training load, a change of the running technique, e.g. transitioning from heel striking to fore- or midfoot running, can be highly effective and usually prevents knee-related injuries. With this demo, we highlight factors to consider when determining EMS actuation phases for real-time running style correction in an outdoor scenario. During actuation the wearable applies electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) in the flight phase of a stride after having detected a heel-strike with force sensing resistors (FSR) in a sensor insole. To complement the original FootStriker lab prototype, we address the applicability in the field of the aforementioned real-time running style correction system.