I just published a new scientific study—this paper was basically the centerpiece of my PhD dissertation, and the title more or less gives away the premise: “Predicting Achilles tendon and patellofemoral joint forces during running with consumer-grade wearable sensor data.”
In this study, “consumer-grade wearable sensor data” means RunDynamics from a chest-worn Garmin heart rate monitor and similar data from a Stryd foot pod. If you aren’t familiar with these devices, they use on-board sensors to estimate biomechanical parameters like your cadence / stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and so on.[1]
There are a few issues with the gait metrics you get from these kinds of devices, though. First, are they accurate? And second…do they actually tell you anything about what’s going on inside your body?