Introduction to Sports Biomechanics: Analysing Human Movement ...

INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
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INTRODUCTION
In the previous chapter, we considered human motion in sport and exercise as ‘patterns
of movement’, and introduced key aspects of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of
human movement patterns in sport. This chapter is designed to provide a contextual
structure for carrying out qualitative movement analysis. The approach adopted here
is based on previous books on qualitative analysis of human movement (see Further
Reading on page 76 for more details) and many years of practical experience. This
approach is very similar to that recommended by some professional agencies that represent
sports biomechanists, or by agencies that hire sports biomechanists, such as the
New Zealand Academy of Sport. Although the approach outlined here is used more by
qualitative than quantitative analysts, it could – and should – be adopted by the latter
group to provide a structure for their work.
BOX 2.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
understand how qualitative biomechanical analysis fits within the multidisciplinary framework
of qualitative movement analysis
plan and undertake a qualitative video analysis of a sports technique of your choice
develop a critical insight into qualitative biomechanical analysis of movement in sport and
exercise
appreciate the need for a structured approach to qualitative movement analysis
outline the principles of deterministic modelling and perform a qualitative analysis of a sports
skill in detail, using a hierarchical model
appreciate how use of a deterministic model can avoid some of the pitfalls of qualitative
analysis
understand the roles, within qualitative analysis, of phase analysis of movements and the
movement principles approach.
A STRUCTURED ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK
The approach outlined in this section, and developed further in the five sections that
follow, focuses on the systematic observation and introspective judgement of the quality
of human movement to provide the best intervention to improve performance. This
approach is necessarily interdisciplinary and integrated, involving motor development,
motor learning and biomechanics, together with some aspects of physiology
and psychology. The now defunct Performance Analysis Steering Group of the British