Wearable sports monitoring equipment and method for characterizing sports performances or sportspersons

A method for monitoring a sports performance of a person, comprising the steps of:

• measuring the person's heartbeat using a wearable heartbeat sensor for providing a heartbeat signal,
• measuring movement of the person using a wearable motion sensor for providing a motion signal, and
• in one or more computing units functionally connected to said wearable heartbeat sensor and said wearable motion sensor:
• detecting periodic features in said heartbeat signal and in said motion signal,
• determining a temporal correlation of periodic features of said heartbeat signal and said motion signal, and
• calculating at least one performance parameter based at least partly on said temporal correlation, wherein said at least one performance parameter comprises a fatigue index or a fitness index determined by:
• computing, using said heartbeat signal and said motion signal, a time delay parameter depicting a delay between a response in said heartbeat signal to intensity changes during said sports performance, and a response in said motion signal to intensity changes during said sports performance, and
• computing said fatigue index or said fitness index using said time delay parameter;
• and
• provide an indication of a performance intensity level of the person based at least partially on said fatigue index or said fitness index in order to optimize the person's training, sports performance or complete a planned performance with maximum pace.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for carrying out a method for monitoring a sports performance of a person, the method comprising the steps of:

• measuring the person's heartbeat using a wearable heartbeat sensor for providing a heartbeat signal,
• measuring movement of the person using a wearable motion sensor for providing a motion signal, and
• in one or more computing units functionally connected to the wearable heartbeat sensor and the wearable motion sensor, carry out the computer-executable instructions to perform at least the steps of:
• detecting periodic features in said heartbeat signal and in said motion signal,
• determining a temporal correlation of periodic features of said heartbeat signal and said motion signal, and
• calculating at least one performance parameter based at least partly on said temporal correlation, wherein said at least one performance parameter comprises a fatigue index or a fitness index determined by:
• computing, using said heartbeat signal and said motion signal, a time delay parameter depicting a delay between a response in said heartbeat signal to intensity changes during said sports performance, and a response in said motion signal to intensity changes during said sports performance, and
• computing said fatigue index or said fitness index using said time delay parameter;
• and
• provide an indication of a performance intensity level of the person based at least partially on said fatigue or said fitness index in order to optimize the person's training, sports performance or complete a planned performance with maximum pace.