Somatrace Turns Athlete Movement Into Data

In competitive sport, a small movement pattern can sometimes develop into a serious injury.

A Hyderabad-based national-level shooter is now exploring how technology can help athletes understand and manage such risks before they interrupt their careers.

At 21, Homanshika Reddy is developing Somatrace, a wearable system designed to track spinal movement in real time.

The technology uses sensors to capture movement and posture data while athletes train. It aims to provide information that can help athletes and coaches understand how the body responds during practice.

Initially designed for rifle shooters, Somatrace focuses on an area that can be difficult to assess through visual observation alone.

Shooting demands stability, controlled movement and consistent posture. Even small changes in spinal alignment or movement could influence an athlete’s technique and physical strain.

Somatrace seeks to turn those movements into measurable data. By monitoring spinal motion continuously, the system could help identify movement patterns that may be associated with injury risk.

Coaches could then use these insights alongside their existing training methods to examine technique and make informed adjustments.

The innovation is also built around a problem Reddy has experienced personally. She first picked up a rifle at the age of 12 as a hobby.

Nine years later, her sporting journey has expanded into developing technology aimed at addressing a challenge faced by athletes across disciplines.

Her motivation came partly from dealing with injury herself. She also saw a friend leave sport because of an injury.

That experience highlighted how quickly a physical problem can alter an athlete’s progress and career.

With Somatrace, the objective is to move injury prevention towards a more data-driven approach.

Instead of identifying problems only after pain or injury appears, wearable sensors could provide earlier insights into how an athlete is moving.

While the system began with rifle shooting, its underlying technology could eventually have wider applications.

Sports that place strong demands on posture, balance and controlled movement could potentially benefit from similar monitoring.

Somatrace is more than just a wearable device. It combines technology with an athlete’s experience.

The system uses movement data to help athletes train better. It may also help reduce injury risks and support longer careers.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image published on March 18, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1190350