Bridging Data, Wearables, and Applied Practice: NCSPAH 2026

How are digital human twins, smart wearables, and advanced motion capture transforming the future of sports science, physical activity, and health?

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the 4th edition of the National Congress Sport, Physical Activity and Health (NCSPAH 2026) will be held at the Sports Centre of the University of Twente. Initiated by De Watertoren (the Dutch national research agenda for sport and exercise), this year’s congress brings together researchers, performance staff, and clinicians to connect cutting-edge technology with real-world practice.

What’s on the agenda?
Keynote on Digital Human Twins: Prof. dr. ir. Massimo Sartori (NeuBotics Lab, UT) will explore how smart wearables powered by digital human twins estimate internal muscle and joint forces in real time to predict injury risks and assist movement.

Hands-on Technical Workshops:
– Xsens DOTs in Action: A hands-on technical session with dr. ir. Frank Wouda covering the complete pipeline from raw sensor data to joint angles using Python.
– Markerless Motion Capture: Dr. ir. Bouke Scheltinga will break down the practical considerations, potential, and limitations of single-camera markerless motion analysis.
– Multidisciplinary Symposia: Parallel tracks exploring “Moving Smarter and Better” (including insights from the Slimmer Presteren Podcast team and AI-supported home rehabilitation), alongside deep dives into team science and Exercise = Medicine consortia.
– A Sharp Closing Note: Psychologist and author Dr. Femke Nijboer will close out the day with a brilliant satirical twist: “From 5k to couch: a bootcamp in sedentary living.”

Whether you’re an embedded sport scientist, data analyst, researcher, or performance coach, this is the ideal stage to connect high-level science with daily practice.

🗓️ Event Details:
Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
Location: Sports Centre, University of Twente
Program & Registration: Check all details via the official NCSPAH 2026 Website: https://www.utwente.nl/en/eemcs/ncspah2026/