Technology in Sports: How an Inertial Measurement Unit Helps Improve Performance
Author: Dave Grendzynski
Innovation plays a pivotal role in sports technology. One such innovation that is revolutinizing the sporting landscape is the IMU, or Inertial Measurement Unit.
Let’s dig into the definition of IMU, explore its impact on our games and find out how it is changing the way many sports are played.
One popular kind of wearable sensor is called an inertial measurement unit (IMU). They’re equipped with tiny sensors like gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers.
These devices are a game-changer for researchers studying how our bodies move in sports. Whether they’re simple or fancy, most of these wearables have at least one accelerometer and gyroscope, helping us learn a lot about biomechanics in sports.
KINEXON PERFORM IMU: The Most-Used Player Tracking System For Load Management
What is IMU?
IMU refers to a powerful sports technology being used to capture and analyze athletes’ movements.
It consists of a combination of player tracking sensors and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that work in unison to measure various parameters, including:
- Acceleration
- Sprints
- Decelerations
The IMU sensor collects these data points in real-time, providing valuable insights into an athlete’s performance, technique, and biomechanics.
The technology provides information instantly, which helps coaches make quick adjustments to training and game strategies in multiple indoor sports, including basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, handball, and more. IMU does not track positions but only movements. It only provides load data but no position data!
In fact, Furman University’s Men’s Basketball team uses this type of technology. It helped propel them to a Southern Conference championship and a first-round upset of Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. You can watch their story below.
IMU is a Reliable Technology in Sports
IMUs have revolutionized sports technology by providing objective data on an athlete’s movements. In sports like athletics, basketball, and football, IMUs are used to track many metrics, including:
- Sprinting speeds
- Jump heights
- Change of direction
Coaches and trainers can use this information to assess an athlete’s technique, identify areas for improvement, and optimize training programs to enhance their performance. IMUs are also used in sports like volleyball and basketball.
IMU sensors are integrated into wearable devices can track an athlete’s load management with various metrics, including:
- Body position
- Balance
- Joint angles
This type of data provides crucial insights for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Advancements in Sports Technology Continue
In addition to performance enhancement, IMUs are revolutionizing sports data analysis by offering unparalleled insights into player and team dynamics. IMU sensors are player tracking devices that collect sports data, which can be analyzed to develop better game plans, player interactions, and strategic decision-making.
IMUs provide valuable data for motion capture systems used in sports like team handball and ice hockey. By precisely tracking an athlete’s movements on the field or court, these systems enable the generation of data-driven (sports) performance metrics.
Coaches, analysts, and broadcasters can use this information to analyze player positioning, evaluate game tactics, and provide engaging visualizations for fans.
Best Way To Use Information From IMU Sensors
IMU sensors are becoming more and more common in sports. They’re offering a wealth of opportunities for performance enhancement and analysis. From improving technique to analyzing game strategies, IMUs provide objective and real-time data that shape many facets of the game, including:
- Coaching decisions
- Training programs
- Overall fan experience
Understanding the information that IMU sensors provide can unlock a new realm of possibilities for coaches and trainers who are looking to maximize the performance of their players, and ultimately win more games.
KINEXON Perform IMU Helps Teams Win
KINEXON’s PERFORM IMU draws on state-of-the-art AI (Artificial Intelligence) models. This provides you with the most essential performance and load metrics.
KINEXON’s player tracking technology is relied upon by nearly 80% of NBA franchises and approximately 400 other clubs across various American and European professional men’s and women’s leagues in different sports, including:
- American football
- Soccer
- Ice Hockey
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Team Handball
- Field Hockey
- Lacrosse
If you’d like to learn more about the products we provide for indoor and outdoor sports (on any level), please contact us at any time. Or download our brochure that will explain what IMU means to sports performance even more.
KINEXON Technology Propels Furman University's Men's Basketball Into NCAA Tournament
More stories
Influence of the Menstrual Cycle in Team Sports – What Sports Need Now
Professionalization also brings with it more performance, more strain, and more pressure. For female athletes, this still means an increased risk of injury. The reason: individualized training and workload management must take the hormonal cycle into account. Studies on this are accumulating, but a challenge remains.
Inside Stony Brook Athletics: The Benefits of a Multi-Sport Data Analytics Provider
Stony Brook University, known for research excellence, has upgraded its athlete performance monitoring and player safety efforts with KINEXON technology. We spoke with George Greene (Senior Associate Athletic Director of High Performance) and his team about their work to optimize training and enhance sports performance insights.
Load Management in Basketball: When Does Player Tracking Become Financially Beneficial?
Player load tracking in basketball: How does data-based injury prevention, like reducing Jumper’s Knee, become financially beneficial for clubs?
GPS Data Boosts Player Performance, Motivation and Coaches' Confidence in SD Eibar Women's Club
To better manage player load, the SD Eibar’s women’s football team switched to a data-driven strategy powered by GPS. It’s a move that their physical trainer, Ismel Mazola says, led to more confident coaching decisions and motivated his players.
How Basketball Data Helps Guide Texas A&M Women's Team to Early Conference Wins
After the holidays, many teams struggle to get back on track. But not Texas A&M Women’s Basketball. Their Strength and Conditioning coach uses data and analytics to avoid a slump and start fast in conference play.
Study Reveals the Importance of an Injury Prevention Plan in European Handball
The competitive pressures and dense schedules in professional handball make injuries common among players. The results of a 6‑year study not only highlight the need for an injury prevention plan but also suggest ways coaches can develop one.
How German Handball's S&C Coach Used Data to Cut Knee Injuries by Almost 20%
Dr. Simon Overkamp, the head of strength and conditioning for the German Handball Federation, employs a data-driven strategy that not only keeps his players rested but also reduces knee injuries. And the Olympic Games play a crucial role in his approach.
Appalachian State’s Coaches Use GPS Football Technology to Manage Player Loads in Real-Time
Live GPS football data helps keep players fresh for game day. Just ask the Director of Performance for the Appalachian State Football team, Matt Greenhalgh. He shares what he thinks are some of the most critical load management metrics in the game.
Why Basketball Agility Drills Should Focus on Improving Vertical Jump Height
New research is shedding light on the importance of improving vertical jump height in basketball. Backed by data, these findings are an eye-opener for coaches because researchers say jump height can positively affect other facets of a player’s game.
How LPS Data Helps Handball Coaches Find Quality Scorers with New Insights
Researchers used LPS data and machine learning to create a new model for predicting goals in handball. It’s now helping coaches identify their quality scorers and develop better strategies. Here’s how.
Innovative Strategy Boosts Player’s 3-Point Accuracy to 60% in Conference Games
Do you have players struggling with contested 3‑point shots? Get to know a college coach with a proven method to boost shooting efficiency for high-intensity shots in as little as four weeks.
Research Exposes What Puts College Football Players at Risk for Hamstring Strains
Hamstring strains are common among male college American football players. Researchers have been investigating potential risk factors to better understand and prevent these injuries, and they believe they have identified three that all coaches should track.
Former Handball Pro Shares His Personal Must-Know Metric for Coaches
Call it inside information, but a former pro handball player, who is now a strength and conditioning coach, says one metric seems to stand out when it comes to load management in handball.
How Volleyball Metrics Helped Power Arizona State University to a Record-Setting Season
The Arizona State University Women’s Volleyball team used data to determine their optimal practice length, and it culminated in one of their best seasons in school history.
The Secret Behind The University of Arizona’s Sports Performance Training Methods
Two key figures in the data-driven revolution at the University of Arizona are Jim Krumpos and Dayannara Munoz. They say there are three critical factors that make all the difference in their data collection efforts and training style.