Video System Correlated with Force Plate Recordings for Vertical Jump Biomechanics Analysis

Abstract

The main idea is the biomechanical analysis of human body movements vertical on the spot, or free-fall jumps in order to assess the movements’ anatomical and physiological limits in subjects with and without sustained motor activity. The complex movement in vertical jump is defined by a fixed coordinate system of the recording system and also a mobile system attached to the entire human body. The assessment of the jump biomechanics is determined in relation to the measurement of the contact force between the plantar surface of both legs and the surface of a Kistler type plate. The research methodology is based on experimental system consisting of a calibrated motion video analyser, with dedicated software, based on a high-speed video cameras set synchronized and targeted on three main axes. Subjects participating in this experiment were selected on the principle of normal health, the same gender and similar anthropometric dimensions, but practicing sports or not. The results of the investigations have materialized in knee joint paths data set during the vertical jump but also the variation of the angles measured between the lower limb segments during jumping. Lower limb movements were recorded and determined for leg plantar base of support (BOS) on a large basis and using equipment and shoes specific to sports activities. The determinations highlighted a number of important aspects of the configuration required for this type of investigation and allowed identification of mechanisms for rapid assessment of how the human body was positioned during vertical jump in the goal of finding the best ways to improve performance. Also the coefficients of flexion/extension of the lower limbs, as well as those of impact on the contact with the force plate type Kistler, were used in relation to the human subjects’ anthropometric dimensions.