technology in sport

Question 1

limb kinematics

Answer 1

• kinematics = study of movement in relation to time and space
• 3D or optical motion analysis records an athlete performing a sporting action or a patient performing normal bodily movement

allows joint + limb efficiency to be evaluated with:

• measurements of bone geometry
• displacement
• velocity
• acceleration

Question 2

evaluation of limb kinematics

Answer 2

• accuracy + repeatability of results depends on the current placement of the bodily markers and principles used
• the results do not cater for individual differences
• technique is highly specialised, expensive + largely limited to laboratory conditions = some sporting actions difficult to replicate

Question 3

force plates

Answer 3

enhance performance:
- used to measure the size + direction of ground reaction forces on the athlete

• to analyse gait/ walking/ running
• to measure/ improve balance
• to measure force/ power/ acceleration
• to optimise angle take-off
• to prevent an injury on landing

Question 4

evaluation of force plates

Answer 4

+ immediate, accurate and reliable results that can be analysed
- specialist, expensive + usually used in laboratory conditions = limiting how a certain sporting action is carried out

Question 5

wind tunnels

Answer 5

• used to measure air resistance
• aim to improve the airflow around an object
• streamlining its path through the oncoming air

Question 6

evaluation of wind tunnels

Answer 6

+ allows control over environmental variables e.g. wind speed or wind direction
also control cross winds
+ measure air resistance and flow with precision, accuracy in a rime efficient manner

• specialised facilities housed in engineering bases
• very expensive + require complex analysis of the results by professionals