What is biomechanics?
The study of the mechanical laws or principles relating to movement or structure of living organisms.
Provides conceptual and mathematical tools necessary for kinesiology professionals to improve performance or reduce injury risk.
Vectors
What is a QUANtitate analysis?
Analysis of measurement of movement
- Involves quantification of movement
- Measurement (motion capture, forces, muscle activity)
- Modeling and simulation
- Common in research (becoming common in practice)
e.g. mathematical, SD, mean, linear regression
Advantages to QUANtitative analysis
Disadvantages of QUANtitative analysis
Biofeedback
Giving them information instantly about them while they are doing the activity e.g. 80degree threshold and learn where it is once we hit it (during the movement)
What is QUALitative analysis?
Visual analysis of the form of the movement
- Judgment of the quality of the movement
- Based on observation (video)
- Can involve qualitative analysis of video or of quantitative data
- Structured approach and knowledge of mechanics are important
Should be done in natural environment whenever possible
e.g. video, case study, analysis, theories
Advantages of QUALitative analysis
Disadvantages of QUALitative analysis
QUALitative analysis approach
3 components of exposure
Aperture
‘whole that lets the light in’
Size of opening in lens, larger allows more light but reduces depth of field
Shutter
Opens and closes to expose sensor to light
Slower shutter, more light (can cause motion blur)
Fast movements need fast shutter (and lots of light)
ISO
Sensitivity to light
increasing dark image = grainy
best image quality at low ISO levels, but need lots of light
perspective error
Video calibration
allows a motion capture system to determine the position and orientation of its cameras relative to each other
- needed to make linear adjustments
- must be known size and in plane of motion
- relates pixels to real world units
- ruined by camera movement
What four factors influence the amount of available light when video recording a sports movement?
What are two reasons that the accurate identification of anatomical landmarks is important?
Validity: accurately reflect the true position and movement of the anatomical structures being studied
Reliability: consistent and repeatable measurements across different studies
Generally, in empirical science what are the dependent variables?
Variables measured by the researcher to address a hypothesis.
What is the purpose of a calibration tool?
Allows for the video coordinates to be converted to the real world scale. That is, a conversion factor (e.g., pixels to meters) is generated.
What is the purpose of biomechanical measurement?
to answer a question about the performers movement.
- to modify an aspect of tecnique to improve performance
- gain further understandig of how the movement is performed (generally or under certian conditions e.g. post injury/surgery)
- modify movement to reduce risk of injury (or decrease pain)
Force plate applications
force plates
Internal measurment units (IMUs) ‘Sensor systems’
Accelerometer: Linear motion/kinematics, velocity from displacement
Gyroscope: Rotational velocity, displacements and accelerations
Magnetometer: Polarity of earth to figure out where you are heading