Sports Biomechanics Research Articles

Individualized New Teaching Mode for Sports Biomechanics based on Big Data

Sports biomechanics is an applied discipline with relatively strong theoretical knowledge. At present, it is used as an analysis means in exercise training in various countries and plays a huge promotion role for the development of competitive sports and sports science. However, phenomena, such as single-teaching methods, fixed-teaching thinking, backward-teaching environment, and hardware, still exist in the current education for sports biomechanics. For such phenomena, we perform individualized IRDC (Internet + retrieval literature + big data + cloud) teaching by using the Internet big data analysis and considering different characteristics of every student and apply it in online teaching of sports biomechanics course. We base our proposed individualized IRDC teaching mode on postmodern curriculum theory. According to four features, namely, rich, recursive, relational, and rigorous, we propose an individualized IRDC online teaching mode in this study. Moreover, we apply a new wireless telemetry surface EMG tester as a learning tool of practical teaching in the teaching mode, which we use to acquire Internet information data of online course and induce a real time communication between teachers and students. Finally, we adopt the principal component analysis to develop evaluation indices, including expert evaluation in and out of school and peer teacher evaluation, for the teaching mode. We find through teaching practice that the proposed individualized IRDC teaching mode can make the best of advantages of big data teaching, help teachers implement targeted individualized teaching, and contribute to the improvement of students' academic performance and comprehensive qualities.

Evaluation and Simulation of Sports Balance Training and Testing Equipment Based on Medical Video Image Analysis

Aiming at the shortcomings of video analysis system in the current process of balance force training, a new video analysis system for balance force training is proposed to analyze the test effect of balance force training. This paper evaluates and tests the function and utility of balance testing equipment by using the methods of sports training, sports biomechanics, mechanical design, sensors, video image analysis and computer-related research, combined with the latest research results of physical training at home and abroad. Firstly, several representative algorithms are selected in the frame difference method and background difference method. Then, these methods are tested according to the typical scene conditions, and the experimental results are used to compare and analyze the algorithms qualitatively and quantitatively, and the paper proposes the moving object detection and tracking based on GVF-Snake image model. The experimental results show that our proposed model has good detection effect compared with the background difference method based on Vibe algorithm, codebook model, Mixed Gauss model, adaptive Mixed Gauss model, median filter and adaptive background modeling. The system can accurately analyze the video and image information of sports training. The accuracy of key frame extraction is high, and the recall rate is high. It can be used to guide and evaluate balance force training. And the final evaluation results show the effectiveness of video image algorithm.

Effect of Shod Walking on Plantar Pressure with Varying Insole

Walking and running are very critical factors in human being’s everyday life. A human being takes more than 2,000 steps to walk 1.6 km. The human being wear a boot with insole to protect feet when walking, playing and doing various activities. The boot with insole provides significant impact on the feet during these events and transmitted through the feet due to intense force and pressure. Measurements of plantar pressure are important for diagnosing lower limb disorders, designing footwear, injury prevention and applications in sports biomechanics. The objective of this study is to investigate the plantar pressure exerted on the feet during shod walking (wearing boot with three types of insoles); to identify effective insole for reducing plantar pressure during walking (wearing same boot with three insoles). Eighteen fits, healthy male adults volunteered for this study with mean and SD (mean±SD) age (36±9) years, height (169±4) cm, and weight (71±8) kg. During experiments, each volunteer underwent 5 min of treadmill walking (4.5 km/hr speed) with wearing of boot with varying types of insoles (Low-density polyurethane (LDPU) insole 1; High-density polyurethane (HDPU), insole 2; and Silicone rubber (SR), insole 3). Plantar pressures were measured by using a foot pressure measuring device. A paired t-test was conducted to observe significant changes in plantar pressures of different foot region (P<0.05). Observations of the present study revealed that plantar pressures (N/cm²*s) were minimum during the use of LDPU insole than HDPU and SR insoles. It was also noticed that during the using of LDPU insole, less plantar pressure observed in the heel (3.84 ±1.16 in right foot) followed by forefoot (right 3.92±0.88), lateral (right 3.56±0.85), and medial foot (right 3.60±0.69). Hence, the present study suggested that using LDPU insole reducing the transfer of impact forces to the body/foot in comparison to HDPU and SR insoles during walking and minimizing the risk of foot-related injuries in long term use.

Methods of Biomechanical Performance Analyses in Sport: Systematic Review

Biomechanical analysis involves the evaluation of techniques and tactics in sports. Qualitative method of analysis describes quality without the use of number. Quantitative analytical method entails the collection, measurement and evaluation of data involves the use of number. On average, athletes and coaches can only recall 30% of performance correctly. Performance analysis helps with the remaining 70% by providing accurate performance data. The main aim of this systematic review paper discusses the concept of biomechanics and the methods of biomechanical performance analyses used in sports. Sports Biomechanics professionals work with coaches and athletes to break down technique to help enhance performance and prevent injury. The objective of sport biomechanics is to provide information to coaches and athletes on sport skill techniques that will help them to obtain the highest level of athletic performance. Therefore, sport clubs, institutions, academies, managers, athletes and other concerned bodies working on development of sport and improving athletic performance for their coaching staff.

Research on plantar pressure dynamic distribution characteristics of samba step movements based on biomechanics

Samba dance is a factional part of sports dance. It forms a sports dance system with modern dance. According to the method of sports biomechanics experiment, the dynamic parameters and changing rules of fork foot pressure dynamic distribution characteristics are summarised, which can provide theoretical reference for further study of the basic law of samba dance. From the point of view of sports biomechanics, this paper analyses the rotation of athletes, and combines the knowledge of biomechanics with the rotation characteristics of samba dance. Studies have shown that in the comparison of general parameters, the different indicators of the foot pressure have a certain regularity in different action stages. There were no significant differences between the test group and the control group in terms of walking speed, relative speed, step size, relative step size, foot contact area time, and duration.

On Sports Biomechanics Methodology

Sports biomechanics is one of the most fascinating and formalised disciplines in sports science. While it uses a host of methods, on closer look, it lacks a thorough epistemological / methodological foundation besides what it implicitly borrows from the sciences it uses, such as mathematics and physics. Here, I shall attempt to portray what such a basic epistemological understanding would include and also try to address issues directly related to such an approach. I shall start by describing the most general context in which sports biomechanics exist and then, I will attempt to provide a structural context to bridge the gap between sports biomechanics and practice. Concluding with some ideas about the future of biomechanics.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Insole for Badminton Players: A Preliminary Study

Study in sports biomechanics is a demand field for any athletes due to the fact that it can contribute a lot for the improvement of sports performance. One of them is a study on badminton games where the athletes are normally perform many movements with a combination of usage of sport shoes and insoles. It should be noted that analysis on the badminton games and insoles are very limited in the literature. Therefore, this paper is presenting an art of development process of three-dimensional model of bone and insole in order to simulate the condition of badminton games via finite element method. Computed tomography images were used to reconstruct the bones using Mimics software whereas insole was developed using Gensole®. The bones were reconstructed by setting a Hounsfield Unit (226 to 3071) to differentiate the cortical bone. Anthropometric procedure was firstly used to develop the insole of Slazenger. For the preliminary analysis, the models were used to simulate the landing phase of the badminton player where the inferior part of the insole were lifted at 2° with a total of 2.57 times of body weight was applied from the bottom of insole. From the results, it is shown that the von Misses stress were observed at the contact point between bones and insole. From the preliminary results, the stress distribution on the insole is higher at certain points, might due to a larger contacted part. Nevertheless, a detail of foot and ankle joint should be developed in the future to mimic the real condition of the landing phase of athletes.

Sport Biomechanics Applications Using Inertial, Force, and EMG Sensors: A Literature Overview.

In the last few decades, a number of technological developments have advanced the spread of wearable sensors for the assessment of human motion. These sensors have been also developed to assess athletes' performance, providing useful guidelines for coaching, as well as for injury prevention. The data from these sensors provides key performance outcomes as well as more detailed kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data that provides insight into how the performance was obtained. From this perspective, inertial sensors, force sensors, and electromyography appear to be the most appropriate wearable sensors to use. Several studies were conducted to verify the feasibility of using wearable sensors for sport applications by using both commercially available and customized sensors. The present study seeks to provide an overview of sport biomechanics applications found from recent literature using wearable sensors, highlighting some information related to the used sensors and analysis methods. From the literature review results, it appears that inertial sensors are the most widespread sensors for assessing athletes' performance; however, there still exist applications for force sensors and electromyography in this context. The main sport assessed in the studies was running, even though the range of sports examined was quite high. The provided overview can be useful for researchers, athletes, and coaches to understand the technologies currently available for sport performance assessment.

Біомеханічні аспекти раціоналізації процесу навчання рухів у процесі технічної підготовки спортсменів

The article is devoted to the current problem - increasing the efficiency of the trainingprocess and technical training through the use of theoretical and practical developments and opportunities of sports biomechanics, the introduction of biomechanical technologies, expansion of the role of didactic component of the training process as the major means of formation of efficient didactic platform for improving human motor activity during sports engagement.Objective. Analysis of biomechanical aspects of rationalization of the process of learningmovements in the process of technical training of athletes. Methods. Theoretical analysis and generalization of data from special scientific and methodological literature, the Internet and practical experience. Results. The didactic process of sports training aimed at learning new motor actions and improving the already mastered, is constantly changing and requires from the teacher-coach new methodological approaches and creative understanding of its content. The provisions highlighted in the article on the rationalization of the process of learning movements during technical training of athletes are confirmed by their practical implementation in the training process of athletes of different qualifications. The author concludes that the theoretical basis of technical training of athletes in various sports events is formed by the basic provisions of sports biomechanics, one of the directions of which is the pedagogical component of rationalizing the process of technical training, which allows to increase sports practice efficiency through motor action analysis and its constructive synthesis, sunstantiation sports technique, its construction, finding ways to improve, find and understand the causes of motor errors and effective ways to avoid them, including ways and means of their occurrence prevention.

Basic Principles of Three-Dimensional Videography in Sports Biomechanics

Basic Principles of Three-Dimensional Videography in Sports Biomechanics

Gender differences between the three dimensional gait analysis data of young athletes

Aim: There are differences in skeletal structures between genders. These differences also have an impact on the gait patterns of individuals. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the differences between two genders with regard to gait parameters of young Turkish athletes. The secondary purpose was to form a representative gait sample of Turkish athletes.Material and Methods: A total of 51 athletes; 29 females, 22 males (5-18 years, mean age: 11.7) who did not have any disease that might lead to gait pathology were included in the study. Three-dimensional gait analysis was performed on all participants with ViconBonita System (Oxford Metrics Ltd., Oxford, England). Temporo-spatial, kinematic, and kinetic variables were compared among the groups.Results: Regarding the time-distance parameters; step distance (p=0.001) and stride length (p=0.002) were found to be greater in girls than in boys. The kinematic analysis showed that the maximum hip extension during the stance phase (H2, p=0.03) was greater in boys compared to the extension during the stance phase of the girls. The maximum hip flexion during the swing phase (H3, p=0.02), maximum hip adduction (H4, p=0.01) and maximum ankle plantar flexion (A3, p=0.04) were found to be higher in girls than in boys.Conclusion: The gait analysis data had significant gender differences. Sport technology and biomechanics have been advancing rapidly. We suggest that normal data and biomechanical factors will be clearer as the gait analysis results of the athletes increase.

Herramientas tecnológicas para el estudio e intervención de la biomecanica en el deporte de alto rendimiento: una mirada desde fisioterapia

La biomecánica es el área de estudio de componentes cinéticos y cinemáticos implicados en el movimiento corporal humano profundizando en elementos tales como fuerza muscular, rangos de movimiento, aceleración, velocidad y desplazamiento. En el deporte de alto rendimiento, el estudio de las variables biomecánicas que inciden en el gesto motor es de vital importancia para entender los mecanismos de control y adaptación del movimiento a actividades especificas, con el fin de desarrollar programas para mejorar la ejecución del movimiento en determinadas fases del gesto deportivo y prevenir lesiones a partir del estudio del gesto motor. Por tal motivo el objetivo de este artículo es realizar una revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre el uso de la tecnología para la evaluación e intervención de la biomecánica en el deporte de alto rendimiento

Previous High School Participation in Varsity Sport and Jump-Landing Biomechanics in Adult Recreational Athletes.

Early sports sampling is associated with superior biomechanics in youth athletes; however, the effect of multisport participation on adult biomechanics is unknown. To compare jump-landing biomechanics between adult recreational athletes who previously participated in 0, 1, or 2 or more select high school varsity sports (VSs; basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball) that feature landing and cutting tasks. Descriptive laboratory study. University community setting. Fifty adult recreational athletes (22 women, 28 men; age = 23.8 ± 2.5 years) with no high school VS experience or with high school VS experience in basketball, lacrosse, soccer, or volleyball. Athletes were grouped into those who participated in 0 (0VS, n = 11), 1 (1VS, n = 21), or 2 or more (2VSs, n = 18) of these sports at the high school level. The average Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) total score from 3 individual jump landings was determined. A 1-way analysis of covariance using sex as the covariate was calculated to compare groups. The Pearson R was used to test for the correlation between the LESS score and number of sports played, and a linear regression analysis was performed using the number of sports played to predict the LESS score. The α level was set a priori at .05. The 0VS athletes produced similar LESS scores as the 1VS athletes (5.89 ± 1.2 versus 5.38 ± 1.93 points, respectively, P = .463), whereas the 2VSs athletes demonstrated lower LESS scores (3.56 ± 1.97 points) than the 0VS (P = .002) and 1VS (P = .004) athletes. The LESS scores were moderately negatively correlated with the number of high school VSs played (R2 = -0.491, P < .001). The linear regression analysis was significant (F1,37 = 9.416, P = .004) with R2 = 0.203. For every additional VS played at the high school level, the LESS score decreased by 1.28 points. Landing Error Scoring System scores were lower in athletes who had a history of multisport high school varsity participation in basketball, lacrosse, soccer, or volleyball compared with those who had a history of single-sport or no participation in these sports at this level. Multisport high school varsity participation in these sports may result in improved neuromuscular performance and potentially reduced injury risks as adults.

Relationship between preferred saddle height and pedalling kinematics in professional cyclists

Background: Proper saddle height in cycling can improve health, comfort, and performance (Millour et al. 2019). Methods based on knee angle (KA) for saddle height adjustment are frequently employed (Ferrer-Roca et al. 2011). They are considered accurate because they consider individual differences in thigh, shank, and foot length (Bini and Hume 2016). Ferrer-Roca et al. (2011) advocate KA between 30° and 40° during maximum knee extension while pedalling to prevent injuries. However, this method does not consider ankle angle (AA) which can vary considerably according to the individual pedalling technique (Peveler et al. 2012). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse lower limb joint angle of professional cyclists in their preferred saddle height. The hypothesis was that AA should be taken into consideration for an accurate adjustment of saddle height in cycling. Methods: Seventeen professional cyclists volunteered for this experiment (Mean ± SD: 28 ± 5 years old, 1.80 ± 0.05 m, 70 ± 7 kg). A 1 st step was to optimise cycling cleat position with a ML Cleat® device (Morphologics, Saint-Malo, France) and to adjust saddle and handlebar positioning according to the Morphologics ergonomist advices. Then, all the cyclists have 1 month to validate this position or to modify it according to this comfort’s feeling. In a 2 nd step, the cyclists performed a submaximal pedalling test of 3 min at 150 W and 80 rpm on their personal road bike which was mounted on an Elite Turno ergometer ® (Elite, Fontaniva, Italy) enabling to control break resistance. To measure KA, AA, and hip angle (HA) during maximum knee extension (Figure 1), markers were placed on the left side of each participant on greater trochanter, lateral femoral epicondyle, lateral malleolus, and 5 th metatarsal head. A high-resolution digital camera (Go Pro Hero 3, San Mateo, California, USA) was positioned at 4 m and perpendicular to the cyclists. Joint angles data of 10 consecutive pedalling cycles were analysed using kinematic analysis software (Kinovea V0.8.24). A correction of parallax and a correction of distortion were made with this software. Results: The results showed that the means of KA, AA, and HA were 38.0 ± 4.5°, 124.7 ± 5.2°, and 59.2 ± 3.8°, respectively. Although this mean of KA was in the range of 30°-40°, we can observe a large discrepancy between the cyclists and 5 of them had a KA outside the optimal range advocated by Ferrer-Rocca et al. (2011). Figure 2 shows that KA was positively correlated to AA (r = 0.57, p<0.01) but negatively to HA (r = 0.73, p<0.01). Discussion: Our results suggest that professional cyclists can exhibit different pedalling kinematic patterns. Athletes with higher KA present lower HA and important plantarflexion during maximum knee extension. Conversely, athletes with lower KA exhibit higher HA and large dorsiflexion during maximum knee extension. These results are in accordance with Ryan and Gregor (1992) who showed a strong inter-subject variability in pedalling kinematics of well-trained cyclists. Peveler et al. (2012) suggested that optimisation of the cycling position must take into account individual anthropometry as well as pedalling technique, and notably the foot orientation during pedalling. Cyclists who pedal with an important plantarflexion during maximum knee extension may use higher KA than those pedalling with a large dorsiflexion. Conclusion: This study suggests that saddle height adjustment optimisation should take into consideration each rider's pedalling technique, notably foot orientation, and that KA outside optimal Ferrer-Roca range is not necessarily related to a poor saddle height adjustment. Acknowledgements: MorphoLogics Company and Team Arkea Samsic.

A Novel HD-sEMG Preprocessing Method Integrating Muscle Activation Heterogeneity Analysis and Kurtosis-Guided Filtering for High-Accuracy Joint Force Estimation.

This study proposes a novel preprocessing method integrating muscle activation heterogeneity analysis and kurtosis-guided filtering to realize high-accuracy surface electromyogr-aphy (sEMG)-based force estimation. A total of 10 subjects were recruited. Each subject performed isometric elbow flexion tasks at 20%, 40%, and 60% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) target force levels, and the joint force and high-density sEMG (HD-sEMG) signals from biceps brachii and brachialis were collected synchronously. The force estimation model was built using three-order polynomial fitting technique. The input signal extraction of the force model, also named as the preprocessing of HD-sEMG signal, was carried out in the following procedures: first, HD-sEMG signals were decomposed by principal component analysis into principal components and weight vectors; second, the first several weight maps were segmented to obtain heterogeneity information by the Otsu and Moore-Neighbor tracing methods, and the principal component covering the most activated areas was selected; and last, a kurtosis-guided filter was designed to process the selected principal component to obtain the input signal. For the sake of comparison, the joint force estimation experiments based ON five preprocessing methods were conducted. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method obtained 52%, 53%, and 59% reduction in the mean root mean square difference at 20% MVC, 40% MVC, and 60% MVC force-level tasks, respectively, compared to the preprocessing method with the first principal component plus fixed parameter filtering. This proposed HD-sEMG pre-processing method has reliable neuromuscular electro-physiological foundation, and has good application value for realizing high-accuracy muscle/joint force estimation in the fields of rehabilitation engineering, sports biomechanics, and muscle disease diagnosis etc.

Mechanical misconceptions: Have we lost the “mechanics” in “sports biomechanics”?

Biomechanics principally stems from two disciplines, mechanics and biology. However, both the application and language of the mechanical constructs are not always adhered to when applied to biological systems, which can lead to errors and misunderstandings within the scientific literature. Here we address three topics that seem to be common points of confusion and misconception, with a specific focus on sports biomechanics applications: (1) joint reaction forces as they pertain to loads actually experienced by biological joints; (2) the partitioning of scalar quantities into directional components; and (3) weight and gravity alteration. For each topic, we discuss how mechanical concepts have been commonly misapplied in peer-reviewed publications, the consequences of those misapplications, and how biomechanics, exercise science, and other related disciplines can collectively benefit by more carefully adhering to and applying concepts of classical mechanics.

Effect of a Commercially Available Footwear Insole on Biomechanical Variables Associated With Common Running Injuries.

To determine whether Dr. Scholl's Active Series (DSAS) footwear insoles alter biomechanical variables associated with running injuries. Randomized, controlled experiment. Sport medicine and biomechanics gait analysis laboratory. Fifteen healthy adults. The control condition was the participant's own athletic footwear. The experimental condition was the participant's own athletic footwear plus a DSAS insole. Participants completed running gait analysis trials with each condition. Peak vertical loading rates (VLRs), peak ankle eversion velocities (AEVs), peak ankle eversion angles (AEAs), and knee abduction angular impulses (KAAIs) were calculated and compared between the control and DSAS conditions because these variables have been associated with plantar fasciitis (VLRs), tibial stress syndrome (AEVs, AEAs), and patellofemoral pain syndrome (KAAIs). Dr. Scholl's Active Series insoles reduced VLRs across participants by 16% (P < 0.001) but had no consistent influence on AEVs, AEAs, or KAAIs. Participant-specific responses showed that most runners either experienced AEA and KAAI reductions or no change with the DSAS insole, whereas AEVs commonly increased with the DSAS insole. Dr. Scholl's Active Series insoles demonstrate efficacy in reducing VLRs, which are associated with plantar fasciitis. Biomechanical changes to variables associated with tibial stress syndrome (AEVs, AEAs) and patellofemoral pain syndrome (KAAIs) were inconsistent.

Intelligent prediction of kinetic parameters during cutting manoeuvres.

Due to its capabilities in analysing injury risk, the ability to analyse an athlete's ground reaction force and joint moments is of high interest in sports biomechanics. However, using force plates for the kinetic measurements influences the athlete's performance. Therefore, this study aims to use a feed-forward neural network to predict hip, knee and ankle joint moments as well as the ground reaction force from kinematic data during the execution and depart contact of a maximum effort 90° cutting manoeuvre. A total number of 525 cutting manoeuvres performed by 55 athletes were used to train and test neural networks. Either marker trajectories or joint angles were used as input data. The correlation coefficient between the measured and predicted data indicated strong correlations. By using joint angles as the input parameters, slightly but not significantly higher accuracy was found in joint moments predictions. The prediction of the ground reaction force showed significantly higher accuracy when using marker trajectories. Hence, the proposed feed-forward neural network method can be used to predict motion kinetics during a fast change of direction. This may allow for the simplification of cutting manoeuvres experimental set-ups for and through the use of inertial sensors. Graphical abstract The left part of the graphical abstract displays the angle progression of the hip, knee and ankle joint as an example of the kinematic input data and is supported by a stick figure of the motion task, a 90° cutting manoeuvre. This data is used to train a feed-forward neural network, which is displayed in the middle. The neural network's output is displayed on the right. As an example of the kinetic data, the joint moments of hip, knee and ankle joint are displayed and supported by a stick figure.

The association of psychological readiness to return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and hip and knee landing kinematics

BackgroundAnterior cruciate ligament tears have a negative psychological impact on athletes. Currently, it is not clear if psychological readiness to return to sport has an impact on an athlete's landing biomechanics. Thus the purpose of the study is to investigate whether there is an association of psychological readiness to return to sport and single-leg landing biomechanics. MethodsAthletes with an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (n = 18) completed the Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury scale to measure psychological readiness to return to sport, knee strength testing, and a single-leg landing task. A multivariate linear regression model was built for the involved and uninvolved limb based on sagittal and frontal plane knee and hip range of motion. Significance was set at p < 0.05. FindingsKnee extensor/flexor strength testing showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between involved and uninvolved limbs. Nearly 40% of the variance in psychological readiness scores (p = 0.025) can be accounted for by the involved limb's frontal plane hip and knee range of motion. Knee frontal plane range of motion was the only significant factor, and the standardized coefficients indicate that greater knee frontal plane range of motion and lower hip frontal plane range of motion were associated with higher psychological readiness. No other associations were found between psychological readiness and sagittal or frontal plane sing-leg biomechanics of the involved or uninvolved limbs. InterpretationGreater psychological readiness to return to sport is associated with the involved limb's frontal plane knee and hip range of motion during a single-leg landing biomechanics.

Technology in Sports Biomechanics

Biomechanics is defined as the study of the structure and function of biological systems by the methods of mechanics. The range of applications and methodologies in biomechanics is varied, from gait analysis to manufacturing of implants, orthotics or prosthetics devices, rehabilitation technology, fluid dynamics analysis in biological systems, and tissue and cellular biomechanics. An underlying understanding of fundamental applied mechanics principles is required to understand the stresses and strains the body components cause, or are subject to, under different activities. However, it is also necessary to know which biological components are put in place to absorb shock and protect the living systems. Motion-capture technology, material mechanical testing, medical imaging, computer-aided design, and computational fluid dynamics are some of the methodologies required to work in the field. All of these areas come together when biomechanics applications are used in the analysis of sports performance.