AI Single Leg Balance Test

Last week, we discussed our new Artificial Intelligence-powered motion analysis feature. We have now added a new exercise movement analysis. We call it the Single Leg Balance test. Others may call it the single leg stance test. It allows personal trainers, coaches, and physical therapists to use a tool that will score their client’s performance on a one-legged balance activity. As mentioned in our previous article, health and fitness professionals can already do this visually but our AI tool can pick up imperceptible deviations and provide an objective score report that the professional can talk through with their client.

The single-leg balance test can evaluate strength, balance, and coordination. Additionally, the single-leg balance test may even predict lifespan. Below we delve into how it works, how to use this AI movement test with your clients, and what the data means.

How To Use the AI Single Leg Balance Test

First, all you need is a computer or phone with a camera and internet access. Login to fitsw.com and then in the side navigation click the fitsw.ai Beta. At the top of the page, you will be able to choose the specific test. Right now that is just Squat or Single Leg Balance. We are adding more very soon. Choose Single Leg Balance. You can then click the “How To” button in the lower left for directions. We also list those directions below:

1. Press the green “Start” button & wait till it turns into a red “Stop” button (the first time always takes a few seconds)
2. Step back until your full body is in view of the camera and make sure to face the camera straight on
3. When ready, hold arms out in a “T” and a 3 second countdown will appear
4. When you see GO! lift one foot above the bottom line and try to balance for 10 seconds
5. Switch sides and repeat
6. View your results and have fun trying to get a better score!
7. If the Restart button is not in view scroll down

As you can see in the single leg balance test demo below, its quick and very easy to use.

What Do The Results Mean

After testing both legs, you will see a report. Here is what that data means.

Top Graph: Shoulder Tilt

The top graph shows how much your shoulders tilted one way or the other. The blue data points show your shoulder tilt while standing on the right leg. Additionally, the green data points show the amount of shoulder tilt while standing on your left leg. On the x-axis is time and on the y axis is the angle that your shoulder tilted during that time. Therefore, your goal is to keep your shoulders roughly paralel with ground with a 0 degree angle. If you nearly fall over your shoulder tilt will not be around zero.

In the above graph you can see that the tilt while standing on the left leg was closer to zero than the right leg. The right leg shoulder tilt is an angle of roughly -4 degrees which is not very big so its still pretty good. Something like 25 degree tilt would be substantial.

2nd Graph: Knee Height

The Single Leg Balance test also evaluates you on how high you are able to hold your leg. The higher the better because it indicated more mobility, strength, and stamina over time. On this graph you see “On Left Foot” and “On Right Foot” which show how high the leg being help up was over time. There is also a green line which indicates the ideal / goal height which is how high your foot would be for your quad / femur to be parallel.

Metric Scores

fitsw.ai also creates a list Metric scores based off of the data in the graphs.

1. Balance (Left and Right) – These two scores are based off of how close to zero your shoulder tilt was over time for each leg.
2. Time (Left and Right)- These two scores are based on how long you were able to balance on each leg. The goal here is 10 seconds, so if you do that you get a 100.
3. Knee Height (Left and Right) – These two scores are based off of how heigh your knee was and whether it was above the “ideal” height for the entire 10 seconds.

There is a lot of data quickly analyzed and condensed into these scores so that you don’t have to. It also provides a meaninful report to clients so that they can see how they need to improve. As always, we love your feedback if you would like any other data or analysis to be done for you or your clients.

There are more movements coming soon! Some that we are working on are range of motion, FMS movements, jump analysis, and more. If there are any particular movements you are interested in, please let us know at support@fitsw.com and we will prioritize them.