AUTHOR=Elmeua González Marc , Šarabon Nejc 

TITLE=The Effects of a Real-Time Visual Kinetic Feedback Intervention on Shock Attenuation of the Equestrian Rider's Trunk: A Pilot Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.899379

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2022.899379

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=Augmented feedback (provided by an external source) has commonly been used by practitioners who are introducing or re-educating movement patterns as a valuable tool of instruction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of real-time visual kinetic feedback on a horse-riding coaching session. 
16 riders volunteered to take part in this study. Participants performed a pre-intervention trial, a 20-minute coaching intervention and a post-intervention trial. Participants randomly received a coaching+feedback intervention or a coaching-only intervention. Forces at the bit and the stirrups were recorded at trot and canter. 13 inertial measuring units were fitted to the horse’s forelimbs and poll, to the stirrups, cantle of the saddle, distal part of the bridles, 1st sacrum vertebrae of the rider (S1), 7th cervical vertebrae of the rider (C7), wrists of the rider and helmet. Shock attenuation (SA) between helmet:saddle and between C7:S1 and absolute force output were calculated.
SA was lower in both groups and conditions after the intervention. C7:S1 SA was lower in the feedback+coaching group at canter and trot (p = 0.05), and helmet:saddle SA was lower in the feedback+coaching group at trot (p = 0.00), compared to the coaching group. A significant increase in force was observed in all groups on the stirrups at trot and canter (p = 0.00), but no significant changes were observed on rein forces. Implementing sports wearables that provide such type of information might be of remarkable benefit for the rider’s development and performance.