5. Technology

Question 1

What is limb kinematics?

Answer 1

• The study of movement in relation to time and space.
• 3D or optimal motion analysis records an athlete performing a sporting action or a patient performing a normal bodily movement.
• Allows joint efficiency to be evaluated with measurements of bone geometry, displacement, velocity and acceleration in multiple planes of movement.

Question 2

How does limb kinematics work?

Answer 2

• Computer software is linked to multiple video or infra red cameras which record, capture and convert the slow motion shown by the reflective markers placed on the body’s joints and bony landmarks digital format.
• Data produced is immediate, objective and highly accurate and can be used by coaches to adjust technique and improve performance
• e.g. golf swing

Question 3

What are force plates?

Answer 3

• Used to measure ground reaction forces in laboratory conditions
• Data from an athlete balancing, running or jumping on a force plate can be used to assess the size and directions of forces acting on the athlete, acceleration rates, work and power output.
• Most commonly, force plates are used for sports biomechanics assessment, gait analysis, balance, rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Question 4

How do force plates work?

Answer 4

• A rectangular metal plate with built in force transducers usually sunk into the ground to become part of the floor.
• When an object or limb makes contact with the force plate, an electrical output proportional to the force being applied is displayed in graphical format on a computer.
• The size of the force and time the force is applied can be described in 3 planes of motion.
• The use of force plates gives immediate, accurate and reliable results that bio mechanisms can use to analyse performance and health.

Question 5

What are wind tunnels?

Answer 5

• F1 teams spend tens of millions getting the aerodynamics of the car right.
• McLaren have a 145m long wind tunnel for testing aerodynamic parts and set ups -> 4 hundred tons of steel houses a 4m wide fan that rotates up to 600rpm
• This technology has been used to develop drag reduction systems deployed by trailing cars, reducing the rear flap angle by 4 degrees. this can decrease air resistance by up to 7%, improving chances of overtaking.

Question 6

How do wind tunnels work?

Answer 6

• Objects like a cycle or F1 car may be tested for aerodynamic efficiency. The object is placed inside the wind tunnel with instruments to measure the forces produced by the air against its surface.
• Engineers may also study the flow of air around the object by injecting smoke or dye into the tunnel.
• The aim of using a wind tunnel is to improve the flow of air around an object, streamlining its path through the incoming air and potentially increasing lift or decreasing drag.

Question 7

Technology drawbacks

Answer 7

• Force plates: specialist, expensive and usually housed in lab conditions, which can force some performers to adapt the way they run or jump in a real life sporting situation, limiting potential use
• Expensive
• Reliability
• Validity
• Subjective
• Elitist