Respiratory monitoring during cycling exercise: Performance assessment of a smart t-shirt embedding fiber optic sensors

In the present study, we assessed the performances of a smart t-shirt embedding twelve fiber-optic sensors located in different areas of the trunk during a cycling incremental exercise test. Four volunteers were asked to wear simultaneously our t-shirt and a reference instrument based on airflow measurement with the purpose of validating the measure of respiratory frequency (fR). The study aimed to identify the areas of the trunk which are most suitable for measuring fR, with important implications for the design of sports respiratory wearables specifically developed for monitoring fR, during cycling exercise.