THP300 Sports Biomechanics and Perfomance Analysis (Autumn 2024)

Introduction

Sport and Exercise Biomechanics is the area of sport science concerned with the analysis of the mechanics of human movement. It is traditionally divided into the areas of kinetics (the forces acting and resulting loads on body segments) and kinematics (the movements of the body), but also neuromuscular aspects are considered. Sports biomechanists also study the interaction between the performer and sports equipment and environment. Furthermore, they identify the optimal technique to improve sports performance, analyze loading whilst performing a particular sport or exercise task to reduce injury risk and prevent injury, assess muscular recruitment and coordination, study the impact of equipment (e.g. shoes, playing surfaces, racquets, helmets) on movement quality, examine loading characteristics of exercises to improve training.To perform these tasks, sports biomechanics utilize various methods which will be demonstrated our biomechanics laboratory (biomekanisk laboratorium) and in field, equipped with state-of-the-art measurement devices. The course provides the student with insights into biomechanical, technical and tactical aspects of specific sports that are relevant for performance and teaches the students methods for how these aspects can be measured and analysed.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course the students will be able to 

• use kinematic analysis methods to describe technical and tactical parameters of human (sports) movements

• analyze external forces and loads acting on the human body using force plates to quantitatively evaluate the execution of movement skills

• measure and analyze motion, performance and load of activity in field with wearable measurement systems such as GPS and IMU.

• combine kinematic and kinetic methods to describe (sports) movements

• understand principles of data acquisition, signal processing and analysis

• evaluate physical demands of training and competition in (team) sports

• evaluate force and power curves using robotics and formulate advise for training and/or rehabilitation

• get an introduction to programming/coding at the beginning of the course and use coding to solve the analysis during the course

Learning methods and activities

The course offers a mix of face-to-face contact, hands-on practical work in the biomechanics laboratory and in field and guided self-study, including lectures, tutorials and other electronically available recourses. This course is above all a laboratory course where the students themselves will learn and experience outdoor and indoor motion data acquisition methods.
The course starts with an introduction in programming / coding to enable students to run the analysis during the course by programming. After that introduction students go through modules of approximately one week. In those modules students get 1) a theoretical introduction and demonstration of a sport and measurement method, 2) students collect data in the biomechanics laboratory, in field or swimming hall and 3) students analyze the collected data and write a short report.
This modular course will offer the following laboratorial activities:

• Kinematics: movement analysis using motion capture systems such as: video, infrared light camera and reflective marker based systems, global navigation satellite systems (GPS), local positioning systems (LPS), inertial measurement units (IMU)

• Kinetics: estimation of external forces using force plates and IMU

• Evaluation of physical demands in (team) sports using integrated technology

• Data processing and error estimation

Data collection is carried out in small groups, but the reporting of the results is individual.
In order to get satisfactory learning outcomes, the students are required to prepare and review the theoretical content lectured.

Work requirements

The students need to attend data collection sessions (80% mandatory).
The students hand in reports that are evaluated to accepted/rejected, and reports that are used for the grading of the course. The specifics to the reporting is detailed in the beginning of the course.

Assessment/exam

The assessment of the course is made on the basis of the individual written reports and the code that is provided along with the reports.
All reports that are evaluated to being accepted/rejected need to be passed (being accepted).
The reports that count for the grade are graded in a folder evaluation on a scale from A-F.

Core literature

Core literature fall 2024.