Evaluating human movement in sports or rehabilitation presents a complex challenge, involving both subjective assessments and the intricate nature of human motion. Here are the key challenges faced:
1. Subjectivity in Assessment
Movement analysis often depends on the expertise of coaches or trainers, which can lead to inconsistent feedback due to personal biases and varying perspectives. Coaches may differ on what constitutes “good” or “bad” technique, resulting in contradictory feedback. Limited observation capabilities and reliance on memory further complicate accurate assessments, especially for fast-paced actions.
2. Complexity of Human Movement
Human movement, especially in sports, involves multiple joints and muscle systems working together in a non-linear and context-dependent way. Small inefficiencies are hard to detect, and movements vary across individuals due to differences in body size, muscle strength, and flexibility. Computer vision systems face challenges in analysing such complex, dynamic actions, as occlusion and pose estimation errors can lead to inaccurate data.
3. Lack of Quantifiable Data
Without objective data, assessments rely on subjective descriptions like “explosive” or “smooth,” which can be vague. Quantifiable data through tools like motion capture or wearable sensors allow for more accurate tracking of variables such as joint angles, velocity, and force, leading to more consistent feedback and improved progress monitoring.
4. Variability Between Athletes
Every athlete has unique biomechanics, muscle composition, and injury history. Generic assessments fail to account for these differences, which can lead to suboptimal training programs and increased injury risk. A personalised approach, supported by technology, can address these individual differences and provide tailored feedback.
5. Injury Risk
Poor movement techniques increase the risk of injury, especially when inefficiencies go unnoticed. Dynamic and high-impact sports involve complex movements that place stress on multiple joints, leading to potential injuries. Without real-time data, it’s harder to identify movement flaws early, increasing injury risk.
6. Feedback Timing
Delayed feedback based on memory or video review can slow progress and lead to the reinforcement of incorrect movement patterns. Real-time feedback, powered by technology, allows athletes to correct their technique instantly, enhancing learning and reducing injury risks.
7. Mental and Environmental Factors
Factors such as fatigue, stress, and environmental conditions (e.g., weather or surface) can obscure an athlete’s true movement ability, making it harder to determine if poor technique is due to biomechanics or external influences. A holistic approach that considers these factors is necessary for accurate movement analysis.
Conclusion
Determining “good” or “bad” movement technique requires a blend of expertise and technology. Subjective observation alone often leads to inconsistencies, while the complexity of human motion further complicates analysis. Incorporating data-driven tools like computer vision, motion capture, and real-time feedback allows for more accurate, objective assessments. This combination enhances athletic performance, minimises injury risk, and improves rehabilitation outcomes.
By leveraging data-driven insights, athletes and professionals can optimise movement techniques, making significant improvements in both performance and safety. For more information on how SOLFORM addresses these challenges, please visit our website or contact our team.
While computer vision offers groundbreaking precision and the ability to capture vast amounts of data, its application in human movement analysis must balance technological benefits with practical and ethical considerations.
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Cecilia was born in Finland and started off her sporting career in high level soccer. She realised she had some ability in the trail running world when she finished as 12th female in her first trail ultra at Ultra Trail Australia (UTA100) in 2018.
Since then she has won UTA, Blackall 50 km, Brisbane Trail Ultra Miler (course record holder) and finished second at Blackall100, GPT100 and Ultra Trail Kosciusko 100km. Her proudest running achievement is finishing 22nd female at CCC (UTMB world champs) in 2022.
Cecilia has provided the SOLFORM team with crucial insights into the needs of high performing athletes. She has helped the SOLFORM team understand when data is useful to athletes and when it’s not. As a coach and athlete, her insight has helped SOLFORM sculpt a vision for effective athlete and coach interaction.
Tom is a passionate runner, outdoor enthusiast and champion of effective learning and education. His career in military aviation as a fighter pilot and instructor has spanned 15 years and has seen him embark on operational deployments as part of large coalition forces around the world.
Tom’s career has allowed him to hone his skills in effective communication in the area of education and instruction. This mindset led him to link his professional techniques with his passion for running. His professional focus on performance optimisation led him to the concept of SOLFORM, where he hopes the fighter pilot mindset can enhance athlete and specialist interactions.
With over a decade of coaching experience in endurance sports, Kara stands out for her unique approach to movement, rehabilitation, and running biomechanics. Her journey mirrors her clients’ struggles: 8 years as a triathlete, battling ongoing injuries and pain.
Kara Landells is a Sunshine Coast-based Triathlon and Running Coach, Strength and Conditioning Coach and Running Biomechanics Specialist.
With over a decade of coaching experience in endurance sports, Kara stands out for her unique approach to movement, rehabilitation, and running biomechanics. Her journey mirrors her clients’ struggles: 8 years as a triathlete, battling ongoing injuries and pain, and discovering that traditional rehab methods fall short of addressing the root cause of injury.
Kara’s expertise was honed by training with a pro triathlon team in Italy and learning from elite movement coaches. Combining her academic background and personal experience, she forged her distinctive coaching philosophy.
Kara’s collaboration with Tom, sparked by Cecilia, Tom’s partner, led to an exciting project focused on enhancing running biomechanics assessments. Kara played a pivotal role in elevating SOLFORM, providing crucial insights into biomechanical metrics.
Her vision for SOLFORM is clear: empower coaches, practitioners, and athletes with deep insights into an athlete’s biomechanics. This knowledge drives personalised training and rehab plans, effectively tackling underlying issues and unleashing athletes into a world of pain-free movement and peak performance.