There three main concerns listed were a lack of understanding of the benefits of the technology, a lack of understanfing in how to use the actual equipment to perform analysis, and insufficient time to set up and learn the processes involved with using the technolgy. This is interesting considering all the discusion around science communication. These video systems provide major advantages to both coaches and athletes but aren't being used in many cases because they are intimidating and seem far too complex for the "common coach" to use.
There are some computer requirements that may limit some coaches, however the only other technologies that are needed are a video camcorder, a video capture card and an analysis software. This video capture system isn't just playing back a video of the athlete it is actually performing a motion analysis on the movement performed with the use of the software. These programs "allow software programs allow you to manipulate images, draw on the video to accentuate positions, and even perform simple quantitative measurements such as angles. Most software options allow you to split the screen and simultaneously show two (or more) different videos, perhaps of different trials of the same gymnast, or an expert gymnast versus a beginner."
Here's a video of an analysis of an athlete on high bar. Picture and video are from http://www.u-pregnancy-test.com/index.php?key=motion+pattern+matching.
As technolgy is becoming more advanced it is begining to greatly impact not only the equipment used in sports but also the way sports are being coached. It's definitely interesting to see the communication issues with the emerging technologies, and how some coaches chose to go without it rather than learning about the new technologies. To me, this says something about how it's being presented since it has so many benfits yet so many shy away because it appears too complex.
4 comments:
I was in a class last semester called Computational Biomechanics where we took data taken from a Gait Laboratory and analyzed it to determine if there were large forces or moments on the knee. The Children's Hospital in Denver just installed a state-of-the-art Gait Analysis Lab, among the top 5 most advanced labs in the world. It is used to help treat children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, brain or spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophies, hip and joint problems or balance disorders, and brace or prosthetic device modifications. This technology uses sensors that are placed on the body to take data. It sounds like it is the more complicated version of the technology that you are describing. I think with all the research that is going into the gait analysis, more advanced and easy-to-use equipment for sports training will continue to gain popularity.
I completely agree with Michelle that more advanced and easy-to-use equipment for sports training will gain popularity. I think this technology got the majority of its advancement through golf. I had a coach that used the technology to help our swings in high school. By comparing our swing variations to pro variations it was easy to see several of our faults. It made a lot more sense to me as an athlete watching the film and seeing the physics put into action rather than just being told "keep your arm more straight in the back swing." In time I learned my favortie golf swing breakdown analysis. "What I try to do is flat load my feet, so I can snap load my power package. That way I can amplify both lag and drag pressure through impact fix, as long as my #2 power accumulator doesn’t break down, I can reach maximum centripetal force with minimum pivotal resistance. You see the pivot is utilization of multiple centers to produce a circular motion for generating centripetal force on an adjusted plane, plus the makes and balances necessary for a two line delivery path. See golf is geometrically oriented to layer force. It involves a physical muscular thrust and the geometry of the circle. You can divide the golf swing into 24 basic components each of which has about 12 to 15 variations. Now when you think of all this and get it all set, then maybe you can hit shots like me."
A great post. I'm surprised they haven't been quick to take up the technology--seems like other professional sports have been quick to pick this sort of thing up. I wonder if it's mostly a problem of attitude or if it has more to do with resources.
Michelle- That's really interesting and it does definitely sound very similar. I had no idea that they were doing those type of studies!
From what I could tell it was a mixture between resources and attitude. I wonder too if it may just be at more of the
"local" gyms that it hasn't been picked up at and maybe some of the larger training centers are actually using it. Along with what Michelle was saying too I wouldn't be surprised over the next few years to see more of the sensors and video analysis being used in more and more of the gyms.
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