Title
Concurrent validity of novel smartphone-based apps monitoring barbell velocity in powerlifting exercises
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the validity of three smartphone applications measuring barbell movement velocity in resistance training and comparing them to a commercially available linear transducer. Twenty competitive powerlifters (14 male and 6 female) completed a progressive loading protocol in the squat, bench press and deadlift (sumo or conventional) until reaching 90% of the highest load they had achieved in a recent competition. Mean velocity was concurrently recorded with three smartphone applications: Qwik VBT (QW), Metric VBT (MT), MyLift (ML), and one linear transducer: RepOne (RO). 3D motion capturing (Vicon) was used to calculate specific gold standard trajectory references for the different systems. A total of 589 repetitions were recorded with a mean velocity of (mean ± standard deviation [min-max]) 0.44 ± 0.17 [0.11–1.04] m·s-1, of which MT and ML failed to identify 52 and 175 repetitions, respectively. When compared to Vicon, RO and QW consistently delivered valid measurements (standardized mean bias [SMB] = 0 to 0.21, root mean squared error [RMSE] = 0.01 to 0.04m·s-1). MT and ML failed to deliver a level of validity comparable to RO (SMB = -0.28 to 0.14, RMSE = 0.04–0.14m·s-1), except for MT in the bench press (SMB = 0.07, RMSE = 0.04m·s-1). In conclusion, smartphone applications can be as valid as a linear transducer when assessing mean concentric barbell velocity. Out of the smartphone applications included in this investigation, QW delivered the best results.
Keywords
VelocityMotionCell phonesKinematicsBody weightMusculoskeletal mechanicsAppsStrength training
Object type
Language
English [eng]
Persistent identifier
Appeared in
Title
PLOS ONE
Volume
19
Issue
11
ISSN
1932-6203
Issued
2024
Publication
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Version type
Date issued
2024
Access rights
Rights
Rights statement
© 2024 Renner et al
University of Vienna | Universitätsring 1 | 1010 Vienna | T
+43-1-4277-0