Validity of a low-cost friction encoder for measuring velocity, force and power in flywheel exercise devices

Víctor Illera-Domínguez; Bruno Fernández-Valdés; Jose Gisbert-Orozco; Carlos Ramirez-Lopez; Sergi Nuell; Jacob González; Jonathon Weakley

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2023.119991

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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3/2023
vol. 40

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abstract:

Original paper

Validity of a low-cost friction encoder for measuring velocity, force and power in flywheel exercise devices

Víctor Illera-Domínguez

^{1, 2}

,

Bruno Fernández-Valdés

²

,

Jose Gisbert-Orozco

¹

,

Carlos Ramirez-Lopez

^{3, 4}

,

Sergi Nuell

^{1, 2}

,

Jacob González

^{1, 5}

,

Jonathon Weakley

^{3, 6}

Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Tecnocampus, Department of Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Mataró, Spain
Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) centre, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom
Scottish Rugby Union, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Futbol Club Barcelona (FCB), Barcelona, Spain
School of behavioral and health sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia

Biol Sport. 2023;40(3):805–811

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.119991

Online publish date: 2022/11/18

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of a low-cost friction encoder against a criterion measure (strain gauge combined with a linear encoder) for assessing velocity, force and power in flywheel exercise devices. Ten young and physically active volunteers performed two sets of 14 maximal squats on a flywheel inertial device (YoYo Technology, Stockholm, Sweden) with five minutes rest between each set. Two different resistances were used (0.075 kg·m² for the first set; 0.025 kg·m² for the second). Mean velocity (V_rep), force (F_rep) and power (P_rep) for each repetition were assessed simultaneously via a friction encoder (Chronojump, Barcelona, Spain), and with a strain gauge combined with a linear encoder (MuscleLab 6000, Ergotest Technology, Porsgrunn, Norway). Results are displayed as (Mean [CI 90%]). Compared to criterion measures, mean bias for the practical measures of V_rep, F_rep and P_rep were moderate (-0.95 [-0.99 to -0.92]), small (0.53 [0.50 to 0.56]) and moderate (-0.68 [-0.71 to -0.65]) respectively. The typical error of estimate (TEE) was small for all three parameters; V_rep (0.23 [0.20 to 0.25]), F_rep (0.20 [0.18 to 0.22]) and P_rep (0.18 [0.16 to 0.20]). Correlations with MuscleLab were nearly perfect for all measures in all load configurations. Based on these findings, the friction encoder provides valid measures of velocity, force and power in flywheel exercise devices. However, as error did exist between measures, the same testing protocol should be used when assessing changes in these parameters over time, or when aiming to perform inter-individual comparisons.

keywords:

Validity of a low-cost friction encoder for measuring velocity, force and power in flywheel exercise devices

Víctor Illera-Domínguez 1, 2 , Bruno Fernández-Valdés 2 , Jose Gisbert-Orozco 1 , Carlos Ramirez-Lopez 3, 4 , Sergi Nuell 1, 2 , Jacob González 1, 5 , Jonathon Weakley 3, 6

iso-inertial, monitoring, resistance training, feedback

Víctor Illera-Domínguez

^{1, 2}

,

Bruno Fernández-Valdés

²

,

Jose Gisbert-Orozco

¹

,

Carlos Ramirez-Lopez

^{3, 4}

,

Sergi Nuell

^{1, 2}

,

Jacob González

^{1, 5}

,

Jonathon Weakley

^{3, 6}