stappone and UAS St. Pölten explore student mobility for a healthier future
In a world where technology is becoming more and more part of our everyday lives, it can also help to improve the younger generation’s health. That is why stappone and the UAS St. Pölten are working together on a study to identify early-stage negative movement behaviour.
On September 27, 2023, the gym of the St. Ursula School in Vienna became a venue for scientific research. Students aged 12-15 were tested on their agility, endurance, and strength at four different stations. What makes this study special is the integration of innovative technologies.
During the tests, students wore stappone sensor soles. These special soles measure foot pressure load, stride length and cadence. The data is collected in real time and analysed using the corresponding software. The result is a valuable set of objective information about the students’ movement patterns.
Why is this data important?
Objective data on foot pressure load and other motion-related parameters offer insights that have been difficult to obtain in the past. While most tests and studies focus on temporal and strength-related factors, there is a lack of information on foot pressure load. However, this data is crucial to get insights into the students’ movement health.
In the future, the results of this study could help to develop targeted interventions to improve student’s health and fitness. Schools could create personalized programs to promote exercise and foot health, which in the long run could contribute to healthier generations.
The study
As part of the study, the students went through four stations.
Station 1: A two-minute walking test showing how much distance the students cover in two minutes. Foot pressure load was measured at the same time.
Station 2: A two-minute walking test, this time with a school backpack with an average weight of 6kg. This serves as a comparison to Station 1. Of particular interest here is the change in foot pressure load.
Station 3: A sit-to-stand test, where students move to standing and back again as many times as possible while sitting on an armchair. Again, foot pressure load was measured using the smart stappone sensor soles.
Station 4: A shuttle run in which the students had to cover a standardized distance of 10×5 meters as quickly as possible.
Conclusion: An innovative approach for healthier students
The collaboration between stappone and FH St. Pölten is an inspiring example of how technology and research can work together to improve children’s health. The collected data will be compared with existing data and provide an important insight into the physical activity habits of students and could lead to positive changes in the future.
The message is clear: physical activity and health are inextricably linked, and it is critical to teach these values early. Thanks to innovative initiatives like these, we are on the right track to creating a healthier future for our children.
We look forward to publishing the results of the study soon – stay tuned!
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