Lower Impact Runner: Valorization of the “Lower Impact Runner” (2019-2021)

The Lower Impact Runner has been developed by a multidisciplinary team of sports scientists, engineers and musicologists. By means of the combination of hard- and software, it has been made possible to reduce potentially dangerous loading on the body during running. This has been shown in individuals who are identified as high impact runners.
Impact shocks are generally seen as one of the most crucial risk factors for running related injuries. Our wearable system can measure this impact on the lower leg during running in a valid and reliable way. Its peak impact shocks are then sonified to provide real-time music-based biofeedback to the runner in a very natural, motivational and effective way.
In an initial evaluation, we found proof-of-concept (PoC) for its effectiveness on improving running styles and reducing impact shocks with up to 30%. The method and independently the associated system are the subject of a patent application.
Running is becoming more and more popular across the globe, mainly because of its general health benefits. However, the biggest disadvantage in this matter is the high prevalence of people getting various forms of running related complaints and even pathologies. Surprisingly, there are no technologies currently on the market which have shown their added value in preventing people from getting injured.
In the last years and months, we experienced an increased interest in the use of our technology by both individual runners (to run injury free), professionals such as clinical running analysts, personal trainers, physical therapists, etc. (to use methods which are more effective) and the industry (running biomechanics hard- and software providers, shoe manufacturers, etc., to differentiate themselves from competition). For specific names, see later in the project.
All of this happens in the slipstream of the drastically increasing sports technology and data analytics market that is seen globally, both on the elite as the recreational level.
We therefore target to license the technology to a strong (running technology) industry player with a track record in the running world. We identify two important use cases:

- Prevention: lower the injury rate in (novice) runners, prevent them from lots of frustration and (in many cases) being forced to stop running (drop-out from sport),
- Rehabilitation: Re-train the gait of runners after they recovered from complaints and injuries (related to high-impact running).

In both cases we aim to lower healthcare and other costs and realize significant societal and economic impact.

Promotors: Kristof De Mey, Frederik Leys