This document discusses using biomechanics to analyze athletic performance and improve training. It explains that biomechanics integrates physics to describe body motion and forces. Traditional tests like vertical jumps and sprints often don't capture important sports movements. Biomechanical analysis can observe variables like joint angles, velocities and forces to better understand performance limitations and guide training. Simple video analysis of movements can still provide useful data on factors like bar speed, technique breakdown and postural stability during fatiguing exercises.

2. Introduction The application of training and conditioning Tests & validity Biomechanics defined How and why does it work How can it improve actual performance What you can do with your clients

3. A little about me…. Founder and president of The Institute of Sport Science & Athletic Conditioning (ISSAC) Current graduate student in Biomechanics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) In the industry for over twenty years Former powerlifter (ADFPA) And just to get it out of the way….

5. Sports & Specificity So many different types of sports So many different ways of training them Sport Specific? How about Athlete Specific? But the underlying science is constant!

6. Training & Conditioning What is the “Right Way?” Speed, Power, Strength, etc…. Outcome dependent SAID Principle : S pecific Adaptations to Imposed Demands

7. Traditional Testing

8. Why Do We Do It? Assess athletic ability Identify strengths Identify weaknesses Goal setting Develop and adjust program “Starting Point, End Point”

9. Steps to Success! Where are we? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? Alternate paths? Are we identifying the right variables?

10. Program Design Implement & Assess Analysis & Testing

11. Validity Test must emulate energy requirements Must duplicate the important movements of the sport for which it is being tested

12. Traditional Testing We know the typical Vertical 40 T-test Etc…… What are we really measuring? But what about something more?

13. Exercise Physiology Tests Most familiar to coaches VO 2 Max Lactate Threshold Body Composition Still, is there something more?

14. Biomechanics The discipline of biomechanics integrates the laws of physics and the working concepts of engineering to describe the motion of various body segments and the forces acting on these segments.

15. What do we need to do? Stick with The Foundations Newtonian Physics applies across the board Human or Machine, these are constant This allows more precise and direct application

16. Power Production Force Development Work Load Capacity Acceleration Torque Linear Velocity Angular Momentum What are we looking for?

17. Common Biomechanical Studies Angular velocity of throwing/swinging arm Arm swing/leg swing for sprinting Vertical Jump How about a little more detail? Let’s get past the surface and down to the specifics!

18. Application of Tests

19. How do tests improve actual performance? The science is constant The basics are still observable Therefore, methods are still applicable

20. Why Are These Tests Valid? Use “real life” motion The important movements of sports are measurable

21. Power = Force x distance/time Force = mass x acceleration Acceleration = velocity/time Velocity = displacement/time Let’s take a second look…

22. TIME! The Common Factor?

23. Time is the common denominator variable in… Increasing Power Increasing Force Increasing acceleration Increasing velocity Therefore, decrease your time, you increase your production.

24. Speed vs. Fiber Activation P = Fd/t = m a d / t Lighter weight will decrease time This will increase Power At some point, mass becomes too small for Force to be maintained, and Power will decrease

25. Speed vs. Fiber Activation Speed isn’t everything Time may small, but is Force (mass) exerted sufficient? Recruit muscle fibers Stimulate growth But with substantial mass, fatigue sets in faster

26. There are many variables that can lead to Muscular Fatigue: Depletion of intramuscular ATP/CP A drop in intramuscular pH, and rise in H + (Kent, Braunl et al 2004) Altered Na + -K + -ATPase activity (Fowels, Green et al 2002) Decreased release of Ca 2+ from the SR Depletion of Glycogen

27. Muscle Fatigue = Force Production Decreases in maximum force (F Max ) and force production (F Prod ) are evident with muscle fatigue during high intensity anaerobic exercises (Viitasalo, Komi et al 1981)

28. Anaerobic/complex movements High intensity anaerobic sports demand explosive power/energy Muscles involved can achieve muscular fatigue quickly Highly technical complex multi joint lifts are also subject to neuromuscular fatigue for similar reasons This can result in a rapid deterioration of technique and form, increasing the risk of injury and decreasing the effectiveness of the exercise Consequently, they are generally kept at lower repetition ranges

29. The Deadlift Anaerobic Rapid muscular fatigue Rapid technique breakdown Low reps Time vs. Force?

30. Fatigue quantifiable by: Reduction in lifting force Reduction in power Decreased bar speed Hip torque generation Decreased hip and knee motion Increased lumbar flexion Decreased postural stability

31. Does It Matter? The ends are the same (fatigue) Doesn’t quite matter how you get there Observable biomechanical deficiencies will still be present

32. So, now what? We know what to look for But how are we going to look for it?

33. Optimal Equipment Force plate Tendo weightlifting analyzer Accelerometer High speed camera Computer with Dart Fish

34. A TON of variables! Marker selection Signal “noise,” Data smoothing Discontinuity of Measuring angles (0 to 360°, +180° to -180°) Cartesian or Polar coordinates? Parallax Error

35. A TON of variables! Ridiculous amounts of anthropometric measurements Throw in some Calculus How about some more formulas?

36. Do we REALLY want to deal with all this??

37. Not practical… Equipment expensive Location restrictions Time restraints Got access to a full lab? A day or two to kill?

38. Realistic Equipment Simple Video Camera Olympic Bar & Plates A pair or two of good eyeballs Items to look for…

42. Still Observable Decreased bar speed Decreased joint velocity Decreased hip and knee motion Decreased postural stability Increased lumbar flexion

43. Examples of other movements…

47. Bottom Line… Unless you are in a lab conducting research This will get the job done with what you want to accomplish!

48. Other Applications

49. Quad to Hamstring Strength Ratio Strength imbalance may equate to injury Weak antagonist hamstring attempts to decelerate forward leg swing… SNAP!

50. Ground Contact Time Minimum time on the ground Eccentric vs. Concentric Loading Maximum Power/Force production.

51. Bilateral vs. unilateral strength production Hip Extensor, etc. Instability in movement in sports Monitor progress for athlete rehab

52. Increasing leg turn over vs. stride length More ground contact time ratio Car in the air More difficult to change person’s stride

53. Upper body vs. lower body power/force production Almost all sport movements begin with the feet in contact with the ground, with production beginning in the legs and, when needed, extending to the upper body.

54. So, what to do… Learn a little bit of the basics Don’t ignore the obvious Don’t wear the blinders We’re not really that bad!

55. How to put it all together Observe and Assess Recognize and Translate Design and Apply Implement and Improve

56. Questions?

57. Michael S. Palmieri, CSCS, USAW [email_address]