Validating an Inertial Measurement Unit System for Tracking Ice Hockey Goaltender Kinematics

Abstract

Ice hockey goaltenders perform save stances requiring extreme hip motions, increasing their risk of injury. Tracking these movements with traditional motion capture methods provide accurate kinematic data but are limited by ecological validity. Inertial measurement unit systems, such as the Xsens MVN Link, offer an alternative for quantifying goaltender kinematics. This study aimed to validate the accuracy and reliability of the Xsens MVN Link hip joint angles while goaltenders wore full protective equipment. Ten goaltenders (m=7, f=3) performed save movements where Xsens data were compared to optical motion capture. Accuracy results showed moderate sagittal plane agreement during simple stances but revealed proportional biases across all axes, with notable errors in frontal and transverse planes at high flexion angles. Reliability analysis indicated moderate agreement between sessions, with a low fixed bias (~5°). The Xsens MVN Link shows potential for quantifying goaltender kinematics; however, its limitations in complex situations necessitate further investigation.