Data-driven equipment adjustments in paralympic cross-country skiing

Engineering of Sport 15 - Proceedings from the 15th International Conference on the Engineering of Sport (ISEA 2024)

In cross-country sit-skiing, technology is crucial to make individualized equipment. The equipment needs to be adapted to suit each individual impairment, as wrongly adapted equipment may affect training, and performance, and cause injuries. In Paralympic crosscountry sit-skiing, several researchers have studied the difference in performance between placing the knees higher or lower than the hips. The optimal seating position is highly individual and dependent on each athlete’s disability. In addition to identifying the bestperforming seating position in terms of performance, It is crucial to address and identify uneven mechanical loading of the back during functional activities as it is a main contributor to low back pain [5]. In this study, we further explore the seating position by adjusting the knee position asymmetrically, for athletes with asymmetrical disabilities, and analyzing differences in performance by data-driven design. A multi-sensor system is used to collect force data from the interaction between the sit-ski and the athlete, and the equipment is adjusted until asymmetrical equipment settings result in symmetrical loads on the knees during sit-ski double poling. The adjustments should provide correct working ergonomics through the spine, thus having the potential to prevent injuries.