Development of the Myoelectric Sensing Garment That Brings the Body’s Interior into View
In the world of sports, advances in motion analysis and video technology have made it increasingly possible to objectively measure “how the body moves.” Techniques such as motion capture and ground reaction force measurement have helped make the body’s movements and the loads placed on joints visible. However, measuring information from inside the body, specifically how muscles are working, in a sports setting remains a significant challenge even today. Myoelectric sensing, an excellent technology capable of visualizing muscle activity, holds great promise as a solution, offering a way to visualize muscle activity. Yet conventional measurement systems require attaching numerous electrodes directly to the body, making them difficult to use during intense exercise, over extended periods, or when measuring multiple individuals at the same time.
To address these challenges, Mizuno has drawn on its expertise in apparel design and human body measurement to begin developing wear that can measure muscle activity simply by being put on.
Currently, with an eye toward applications not only in sports but also in research, education, and medicine, Mizuno is co-creating with SMK Corporation[UC 631.1] (hereafter SMK), a manufacturer of electronic components, to develop the Myoelectric Sensing Garment, which visualizes muscle activity during exercise.
The Co-creation Process Between Mizuno and SMK
At Mizuno, we have been conducting research on improving athlete performance for many years. Through this work, we have recognized the need for an easy-to-use system capable of measuring how muscle activity changes during sports movements and identifying the patterns of muscle engagement associated with peak performance.
Bringing the Myoelectric Sensing Garment to life requires two things working in tandem: apparel design technology that places electrodes precisely on the body, and the advanced sensing technology and analytical algorithms needed to acquire and analyze electromyographic signals. This product is neither a simple piece of sportswear nor an electronic device. By co-creating with SMK, an electronic component manufacturer with deep strengths in advanced sensing technology, we began developing the Myoelectric Sensing Garment, combining apparel design with sensing capability.
In this co-creative framework, Mizuno is responsible for the apparel development that balances freedom of movement during exercise with high-precision measurement, while SMK contributes expertise in sensing device development and analytical algorithms. The structure is designed so that both companies can make the most of what they do best.
Building on Expertise Developed Through Years of Tights Design
On the apparel side of this project, Mizuno is building on the product development know-how accumulated through years of creating compression tights. By devising approaches to material selection and pattern design, we are working toward apparel that delivers stable, consistent measurements regardless of who is wearing it.
We continue to work through many challenges, including improving durability and noise reduction, making ongoing improvements as we go.
Looking Ahead
Once the Myoelectric Sensing Garment currently in development is complete, it will become possible to objectively capture, as data, aspects of how the body is being used that were previously left to experience and sense. This includes, for example, which muscles are working during a golf swing, or how muscle activity changes as the physical strain of prolonged exercise accumulates. We believe this will lead to more efficient training and improved performance.
Beyond sports, the Myoelectric Sensing Garment can be expected to find applications across a wide range of fields, including data collection for academic research, educational use, rehabilitation, and working conditions assessment.
Mizuno and SMK aim to work together not only in product development but also in business development, with the goal of opening up new markets.
What both companies are working toward is a world in which anyone can easily understand the state of their muscles.
Mizuno is committed to making visible the internal information about the body that has been so difficult to access until now, and to extending that value beyond sports into research, education, medicine, and a wide range of other fields. Through these efforts, we take on the challenge of creating new value that goes beyond the boundaries of a comprehensive sporting goods manufacturer.
