OXYgenation during MOVEment – OXYMOVE

The OxyMove project aims to establish a Joint Laboratory between the EuroMov Digital Health in Motion research unit – a joint research unit of the University of Montpellier and IMT Mines Alès – and the innovative company Semaxone, specialized in the design of miniaturized physiological sensors and the development of embedded algorithms.

This joint laboratory is part of a long-term, evolving collaboration at the intersection of movement science, digital technologies, and their applications in sports and health. The partners’ ambition is to co-develop robust, mobile, real-time physiological monitoring solutions that can be deployed in ecological conditions to address current challenges related to injury prevention, performance, recovery, and reconditioning.

Monitoring muscle oxygenation is the first flagship project of the OxyMove LabCom. It is based on:
- sensors developed by Semaxone, capable of real-time measurement of oxygenation variations in muscle tissue, using a multi-channel approach, variable measurement depths, and a modular system allowing for simultaneous tracking of multiple muscle groups;
- EuroMov DHM’s expertise in exercise physiology, artificial intelligence, neuroergonomics, biomechanics, and movement analysis to process, interpret, and exploit the collected data through predictive models and decision-support tools.

The project’s scientific objectives revolve around four major axes:
1. Sports performance optimization: design personalized training programs guided by physiological data to maximize positive adaptations and minimize fatigue.
2. Injury prevention: detect early signs of overload or imbalance to enable rapid and targeted intervention.
3. Personalized reconditioning: support return-to-sport after injury using objective recovery indicators.
4. Fundamental research: improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying fatigue, adaptation, and recovery, particularly related to oxygen utilization in muscles.

The project is structured over five phases across 54 months, from setting up the lab and conducting pilot tests to optimizing the solutions for pre-commercialization. Experiments will be carried out both in laboratory and real-world settings, in collaboration with partner sports teams from amateur and federal levels.

Expected outcomes include: NIRS sensors integrable into portable or textile equipment, embedded algorithms for physiological analysis, software interfaces for athletes and coaches, validated protocols, scientific publications, patent filings, and demonstrators testable by end users.

Beyond this initial project, OxyMove is intended to become a sustainable technological platform hosting new applied research initiatives in both sports and health. Future perspectives include:
- cognitive and neurophysiological monitoring via NIRS in complex environments (mental fatigue, decision-making stress),
- combined measurement of muscular and cerebral activity to understand global adaptation to effort,
- integration into smart clothing for continuous and seamless use,
- and extension to clinical applications: rehabilitation, sports medicine, remote monitoring of chronic patients or elderly individuals.

Finally, OxyMove follows a strong logic of industrial valorization and technology transfer, supported by a proactive intellectual property strategy and the development of a portfolio of exploitable solutions by Semaxone.