Our Research Project - Your Own Research Project

Motion Capture and Analysis

There are many ways to capture information in scientific studies. Although our team relied on visual (video) methods, there exists an entire industry dedicated to instrumental (collection of information with scientific equipment and instruments). Equipment exists that will calibrate and accumulate just about any data you wish to analyze. In sports, equipment such as in-sole sensors or force plates measure the pressure that the athlete imposes on the ground as he or she performs. It's not surprising that equipment used to measure the gaits and motions of the most elite athletes are also used in the medical and rehabilitative fields to analyze the motions of individuals with limited and restrictive movements. The same equipment monitors and looks for improvements as the person recovers from an injury.

One of the challenges in our study dealt with the fact that we were given the privilege of collecting data at professional tournaments - the 1997 and 1998 U.S. Open and the Sybase Open. The biomechanists that we talked with said that the only thing more difficult than a pro tournament is the Olympic games. At the Olympics you must also deal with incredible crowds, limited camera positions and very tight security.

But we were up for the challenge!

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