RUNSAFER

"Development of a running shoe with embedded electronics providing real time biomechanical feedback to reduce injury risk and enhance motivation, and a web portal allowing real training management."

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The aim of the project is to to develop a new system consisting on a new running shoe, a mobile phone application and a web portal, in order to prevent injuries, providing control training to runners. The running system will consist in a microelectronic measurement system embedded on both shoes, able to gather and transmit the main biomechanical parameters during running. The information will be wireless transmitted to a Micro SD card in the mobile phone of the runner while running, where a freeware mobile phone application will inform in real time the runner about the planned activity and performance achieved, suggesting modifications on the activity to change the running pattern in order to avoid running injuries. The mobile phone applications will have the possibility to integrate additional worthy information as heart rate or GPS positioning provided by other commercial devices. After the running activity, the runner will be able to download all the generated running information in a web portal, where services to manage such training info will be available. This web portal will allow the generation of training plans, recommendations and the follow up of the training improvements. Moreover, this web will include web 2.0. functionalities, allowing the user to be in contact with other runners worldwide and built and share contents as running routes, footwear info, etc. The general functionalities of the instrumented running shoe to be developed will be biomechanically optimum, high autonomy, low weight, long life and resistance against the normal use of the shoe. The final price of the shoe in the market will be according to the rest of current running shoes of its category.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A newly designed running shoe can sense pain. The latest technology in footwear helps prevent injury for runners and joggers.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Running is one of the most popular and commonly practised sports in many European countries and can reduce blood pressure, obesity, and stress. However, it is also one of the most injury-prone activities.

To reduce such risks, the http://www.runsafer.eu (RUNSAFER) project has created a new running shoe that can correct poor habits or patterns which cause injury. The runner uses a smartphone application and a website to manage the feedback collected from the shoe. With information provided directly, the runner can self-correct immediately.

Funded by the European Commission, the RUNSAFER project first studied how running affects the body. The expert consortium identified how the body deals with the energy and forces created while running. The patterns of movement created in the body with muscle and force are directly measurable in the foot. Using focus and test groups to create measurable running patterns, a set of training recommendations were formulated.

The running system consists in a microelectronic measurement system embedded on shoes, able to gather and transmit the main biomechanical parameters during running. The information is wireless transmitted to the mobile phone of the runner while running, where a freeware mobile phone application informs in real time the runner about the planned activity and performance achieved, suggesting modifications on the activity to change the running pattern in order to avoid running injuries. The mobile phone application has the possibility to integrate additional worthy information as heart rate or GPS positioning provided by other commercial devices. After the running activity, the runner is able to download all the generated running information in a web portal, where services to manage such training info are available.

This web portal allows the generation of training plans, recommendations and the follow up of the training improvements. Moreover, this web includes web 2.0. functionalities, allowing the user to be in contact with other runners worldwide and built and share contents as running routes, footwear information etc.

The website and smartphone application will soon be ready for use and able to start helping reduce injury and increase the resilience of runners.