Real-time Sonification of Biceps Curl Exercise Using Muscular Activity and Kinematics

In this research, we developed a real-time sonification system to be used in biceps curl. The sonification is generated using a parameter mapping method based on exercise information collected from a muscle sensor and Kinect camera. A crossover trial (AB-BA method) using biceps curl exercises was conducted, which included 14 healthy subjects equally assigned to two different groups. The first group started their sessions without any feedback then received sonification in the last sessions. The other group completed the sessions with the sonic feedback in the early stages. The experimental results show that the sonification worked well at portraying temporal information to help subjects improve the pacing of their movement. Results also show greater improvement in exercise metrics (greater average repetition range and total effort) when participants exercised with sonification, but not statistically significant. However, a significant result is that participants enjoyed the training more with the sonification than without. Positive comments were made on the sound feedback. The study demonstrates the potential for a real-time auditory feedback oriented training device to be used in fitness training or physical rehabilitation.