Biomechanical Assessment of Athletes Ongoing Project
The emerging discipline of Kinesiology focuses on optimizing human movement, performance, health, and wellness. Students, professors, and coaches from Kinesiology, Engineering, and Athletics are drawing upon this new discipline to conduct biomechanical analyses of athletes in order to improve performance and minimize the risk of injury.
Collaboration
- In this project, Kinesiologists will use state-of-the-art technology, including Vicon motion-analysis, video analysis, and Dartfish software, to analyze the movement of JU athletes (track, cross-country, and baseball) and elite and recreational runners in Northeast Florida.
- Engineering faculty and students will integrate technology required by Kinesiology into engineering system design software.
- Students from both academic disciplines will be trained to use Delsys electromyography software to study athletes' muscle activation.
- Track & Field and Baseball coaches anticipate that the personalized biomechanical analyses will lead to fewer injuries and improved efficiency in their athletes' movements leading to better performance.
- Engineering and Kinesiology students will be able to gain greater knowledge of each other's disciplines by enrolling together in the Kinesiology Biomechanics course as well as by faculty guest-lecturing in each other's programs.
- Future collaborations between the two disciplines will involve conducting biomechanical flexibility analyses to study hip flexion and extension in runners.
Left: Kinesiology analysis of Dr. Wight. Right: Motion analysis camera depiction of Dr. Wight.
Professors/Disciplines Involved
- Jeff Wight, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Director of Human Performance Laboratory
- Chris Robertson, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Program Director of Kinesiology
- Megan Phillips, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Kinesiology
- Huihui Wang, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Director of Engineering
- Ron Grigg, Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
- Tim Montez, Head Coach, Baseball
Learn More
To learn more about the programs involved in this Collaborate JU project, visit: