Development of a motion capture system to quantify Taiji Qigong exercises.

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

Human motion analysis has advanced significantly in recent years with evolving motioncapture (MoCap) technologies, notably wearable sensor systems like Inertial Measurement Units (IMU). The selection and integration of these systems depend on specific goals, particularly for Taiji Qigong (Qi) exercises, known for their precise and harmonious wholebody movements. These exercises emphasize alignment, balance, posture awareness, breathing, and energy flow. To effectively capture these holistic movements in order to provide performance-related feedback, a system is needed that records motion, breathing, and heart rate without disrupting the meditative flow. This work comprises five studies (S1- 5) that detail the development of a system for quantifying Qi and exploring methods to capture its motion. System performance studies are discussed in the following abstract: "Towards quantifying Taiji Qigong: development of a feedback system".