# Evaluation of the Repeatability of Pressure Insoles in Short-Track Speed Skating

Sabrina Bost, Éric Wagnac, Julien Clément

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Sabrina Bost, Éric Wagnac, Julien Clément. Evaluation of the Repeatability of Pressure Insoles in Short-Track Speed Skating. Multidisciplinary Biomechanics Journal, 2025, 50th congress of the., 10.46298/mbj.16167. hal-05191719v2

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# Evaluation of the Repeatability of Pressure Insoles in Short-Track Speed Skating

Sabrina Bostª, Éric Wagnacª, Julien Clémentª, b*

a Ecole de Technologie Supérieure, Montréal, Canada

b Institut National du Sport au Québec, Montréal, Canada

* Corresponding author: julien.clement@etsmtl.ca

Received date: 03/04/2025

Accepted date: 27/06/2025

Publication date: 27/10/2025

**Keywords:** performance analysis, wearable sensors, winter sport, biomechanics, pressure insole

© 2025 The Authors
Licence CC-BY 4.0
Published by Société de Biomécanique

## 1. Introduction

In short-track speed skating (STSS), it is crucial to optimize each push-off as well as body position throughout the entire stroke cycle in order to maximize performance (Kim et al. 2019). Thus, modifying technique or adjusting skate blades can help address this goal. However, these decisions should not rely only on subjective observations but also be supported by objective tools. Due to the recent rise in popularity of STSS, the search for non invasive performance measurement tools is still in its early stages. Some tools are already widely used, such as video analysis, accelerometers and force platform (Konings et al. 2015; Clément et al. 2024). Pressure insoles, already used in several other glide sports such as hockey (Buckeridge et al. 2015), are now beginning to emerge in STSS as well. These insoles estimate pressure distribution and are less intrusive than instrumented skates. Nevertheless, they have been studied very little in this sport (Dunne et al. 2024).

Thus, the objective of the present study is to validate the repeatability of measurements obtained using pressure insoles when used in STSS.

## 2. Methods

Ten athletes (5 women and 5 men; age 18.8±1,23years; weight 68.8±7.16kg; height 171.2±10.64cm) were recruited for the study. Ethical approval was granted by ETS, and written consent was obtained. Participants performed three trials while wearing pressure insoles (XSENSOR®

Technology Corporation, AB, Canada) equipped with 220 capacitive sensors sampling at 150 Hz. The trials consisted in completing three laps on a 111.12 m long ice track at a constant speed (11.11 m/s and 10.39 m/s for men and women, corresponding to a 10.0 s and 10.7 s lap, respectively). Between each trial, the insoles were removed and replaced. Data were stored in insoles sensor pack, which also incorporates integrated IMU sensors. Raw accelerometric data were filtered using a 4^th^-order Butterworth bandpass filter (0.5–8 Hz) (Clément et al. 2024), while raw pressure data were processed with a 2^nd^-order Butterworth low-pass filter (26.5 Hz) (Dunne et al. 2024). Seven parameters were automatically computed by the insole system, and analyzed as continuous data sets. Each continuous data set was divided into half-laps, corresponding to straight lines and curves.

Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) has been used to assess the repeatability of the pressure insoles. A repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was chosen for statistical analysis. A statistically significant difference between trials for a single athlete was defined as p < 0.05. Thus, a threshold value F* and a global statistic value F continuous over time were automatically calculated for each parameter's data set considering all the trials from all the athletes.

## 3. Results and discussion

The seven parameters analyzed for each trial and each foot were as follow: average and maximum pressure,
acceleration data (upward [X], forward [Y], mediolateral [Z]) and center of pressure (COP) medio-lateral (ML) and antero-posterior (AP) positions (Table 1). They were selected because they are directly measured by the insoles and include the key data relevant to STSS. Table 1 also shows that, for all parameters, the F* value was never exceeded at any time across all trials from all athletes. Therefore, no significant differences were found between trials for each athlete, indicating that the insoles provide repeatable measurements. Figure 1 illustrates the similarity of the maximum pressure between tests.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1.** Mean and standard deviation of the maximum pressure of the right foot for the 5 half-turns of the three trials for a single athlete (black) Trial 1, (red) Trial 2, (blue) Trial 3.</figcaption></figure>

The results of this study are consistent with previous research in skating. Buckeridge et al. (2015) demonstrated excellent repeatability of pressure insoles for hockey. Moreover, Dunne et al. (2024) compared data obtained from a force platform with that from insoles, showing strong agreement between the two. Therefore, combined with this current study, both research studies reinforce confidence in using pressure insoles in STSS.

This study has some limitations. First, the sample size is small. However, given that the study focuses on high-level athletes, recruiting a large number of participants is challenging. Second, all athletes initially found the insoles uncomfortable. Notably, the skates they currently used are not designed to accommodate insoles. Although this discomfort faded during the trials, it must be considered when interpreting the results objectively.

To complete the repeatability analysis, it would be pertinent to evaluate the sensitivity of the insoles. One possible approach—though not pursued here due to space constraints—would be to examine differences between male and female participants. Preliminary trends observed in average pressures, peak pressures, and COP suggest potential gender-related variations, indicating that the insoles may be sensitive to interindividual differences.

<table><caption>**Table 1.** Parameters studied with the SPM ANOVA and associated statistical values.</caption><thead><tr><td>Studied parameter</td><td>Max. value of F</td><td>F*</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Average pressure - right foot</td><td>9.8</td><td>12.5</td></tr><tr><td>Average pressure - left foot</td><td>6.2</td><td>12.5</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum pressure - right foot</td><td>5.1</td><td>12.7</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum pressure - left foot</td><td>3.4</td><td>12.6</td></tr><tr><td>X acceleration - right foot</td><td>10.7</td><td>14.2</td></tr><tr><td>X acceleration - left foot</td><td>6.5</td><td>13.9</td></tr><tr><td>Y acceleration - right foot</td><td>6.1</td><td>14.2</td></tr><tr><td>Y acceleration - left foot</td><td>6.0</td><td>14.1</td></tr><tr><td>Z acceleration - right foot</td><td>9.0</td><td>14.5</td></tr><tr><td>Z acceleration - left foot</td><td>9.9</td><td>14.5</td></tr><tr><td>COP AP component - right foot</td><td>9.7</td><td>12.9</td></tr><tr><td>COP AP component - left foot</td><td>4.8</td><td>13.1</td></tr><tr><td>COP ML component - right foot</td><td>5.4</td><td>13.4</td></tr><tr><td>COP ML component - left foot</td><td>3.6</td><td>13.6</td></tr></tbody></table>

# 4. Conclusions

This study provided biomechanical measurements applicable to high-level athletes, validating the use of pressure insoles in STSS. The integration of this measurement tool offers new insights into performance assessment.

# Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank the Canadian team for their participation in the study.

# Conflict of Interest Statement

None.
## Contributor Roles

SB: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing original draft; EW: Methodology, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Writing-review & editing; JC: Methodology, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Writing-review & editing.

## Funding

This work was funded by the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Program of the Institut national du sport du Québec (Montréal, QC, Canada), and by the Mitacs Acceleration Funds (Canada).

## References

* Buckeridge, E., LeVangie, M. C., Stetter, B., Nigg, S. R., & Nigg, B. M. (2015). An on-ice measurement approach to analyse the biomechanics of ice hockey skating. *PLOS ONE*, 10(5), e0127324. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127324

* Clément, J., Croteau, F., Gagnon, M., & Cros, S. (2024). Automatic detection of skate strokes in short-track speed skating using one single IMU: validation of a new method. *Sports Biomechanics*. 0(0), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2024.2331174

* Dunne, C., Hsu, T., Lockwood, K., Holmes, M., Wagnac, E., & Clément, J. (2024). Investigating the agreement between force platform and plantar pressure insole data in barefoot and skating-specific footwear conditions across four different movement patterns. *Footwear Science*, 16(1), 55-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/19424280.2023.2283464

* Kim, K., Kim, J. S., Purevsuren, T., Khuyagbaatar, B., Lee, S., & Kim, Y. H. (2019). New method to evaluate three-dimensional push-off angle during short-track speed skating using wearable inertial measurement unit sensors. *Proc Inst Mech Eng H*, 233(4), 476-480. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954411919831309

* Konings, M. J., Elferink-Gemser, M. T., Stoter, I. K., van der Meer, D., Otten, E., & Hettinga, F. J. (2015). Performance characteristics of long-track speed skaters: a literature review. *Sports Med*. 45(4), 505-516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0298-z