Students: Juqi Lin
Project: Integration of Subjective and Objective Assessment Tools to Optimize Health and Performance in Collegiate Female Soccer Athletes | View Poster (PDF)
Major: Bioengineering
Advisor: Dhruv Seshadri
Abstract
This study investigates the integration of wearable technology, including Beyond Pulse belt and WHOOP 4.0 band, to address the physiological, biomechanical, and recovery dynamics specific to female collegiate soccer athletes on and off the field. Focusing on optimizing performance and reducing injury burden, the research aims to fill a critical void in sports science, which has been historically neglected. By combining objective and subjective metrics, this study seeks to develop performance optimization protocols tailored to the unique physiology of female soccer players.
This IRB-approved investigation involves 30 healthy female soccer players aged 18-22, assessing the interplay between physiological, biomechanical, and recovery metrics during training, matches, and recovery periods. Physiological parameters include heart rate; biomechanical metrics cover distance traveled and speed; recovery indicators involve sleep quality and perceived exertion. All of these metrics are systematically collected as part of the score to evaluate athletic readiness for subsequent training sessions.
Preliminary results have demonstrated promising correlations of physiological parameters linked to fatigue. Metrics like session average rate of perceived exhaustion (RPE) and training impulse score revealed significant insights. Sleep metrics indicated associations between subjective tiredness and sleep debt. Future work will dive deeper into these relationships, contributing to training optimizations.
Our investigation underscored the importance of leveraging wearable technology for comprehensive analysis in women's soccer, advocating for equitable resource distribution and aligning with global trends in women's sports development. By synchronizing subjective and objective data, this research aimed to enhance coaching decisions and promote the overall well-being of female collegiate soccer athletes.
About Juqi (Johnny) Lin
Johnny Lin is a junior student at Lehigh, majoring in Bioengineering with a focus on the pharmaceutical track. Under the guidance of Professor Dhruv Seshadri, he has been closely working with Joe Amitrano, a Lehigh Ph.D. student, focusing on enhancing the health and performance outcomes of women's soccer athletes using wearable technologies. Through Johnny’s experience in Seshardri Lab, he gained knowledge in data analysis and discovered the great potential of wearable devices in boosting patients’ wellness. Besides the area of medical devices, his passion also lies in synthesis methodologies and immunotherapy. Outside the academic scope, Johnny is a cooking learner and cycling lover.