QUALITATIVE BIOMECHANICAL

ANALYSIS TO IMPROVE
TRAINING
Biomechanical Analysis for
Training Improvement
 Can help identify SPECIFIC Technical or
Physical requirements necessary to perform a
skill

 Directed at improving Muscular Strength,

Muscular Endurance, CV Endurance,
Flexibility & Body Composition

 Directed at the SPECIFICITY of Physical

Training
QUALITATIVE ANATOMICAL ANALYSIS
METHOD
 Purpose:
 to determine predominant muscular activity
during specific phases of performance
 To identify instances when large stresses may
occur due to large muscular forces or extreme
joint ROM

 Methods:
 Muscle palpation, DOMS, Video-recording, EMG,
Other quantitative analyses
STEPS IN QUALITATIVE
ANATOMICAL ANALYSIS METHOD
1) DIVIDE INTO TEMPORAL PHASES

 Usually includes the following:

 1) PREPARATORY PHASE
 2) POWER-GENERATION PHASE
 4) RESOLUTION PHASE
WALKING
PITCHING
GOLF SWING
 2) IDENTIFY JOINT MOTIONS

 Joints and segments involved

 Movement occurring at each joint at each phase
SHOULDER
JOINT
SCAPULA
ELBOW JOINT
WRIST JOINT
KNEE JOINT
HIP JOINT
ANKLE JOINT
TRUNK/TORSO
3) DETERMINE TYPES OF MUSCULAR
CONTRACTION
 CONCENTRIC
 + WORK, ↓ mechanical energy, ↑mechanical sum
 ECCENTRIC
• - work, ↑ mechanical energy, ↓ mechanical sum
 ISOMETRIC
• no change in mechanical energy, no change in
mechanical sum
 Lifted- ↑ potential energy
 Lowered-↓potential energy

 Stretched/deformed- ↑ strain energy

 Unstretched/ reformed- ↓ strain energy
4) Rapid Joint Angular
Accelerations & Impacts

 Identify the muscle groups that must produce

the largest force as well as the positions of
the limbs when those forces are produces
5) Extreme Range of Motion

 Identify the muscles & soft tissues that may

be stretched and possibly injured.
 6)Chart the Analysis
Example: Bench Press
1) TEMPORAL PHASES DOWN PHASE UP PHASE

2) JOINT MOTIONS Flexion Extension

Elbow joint Horizontal abduction, Horizontal adduction
Shoulder joint extension
3) MUSCULAR Elbow extensors Elbow extensors
CONTRACTION (eccentric) (concentric)
Active muscle groups Horizontal flexors Horizontal flexors
(eccentric) (concentric)
4) RAPID JOINT Active muscles stressed at the end of Down Phase &
ANGULAR Beginning of Up Phase
ACCELERATIONS
5) Extreme ROM (End) Elbow fully flexed (Beginning) shoulder close
to limit of horizontal
flexion
Example 2: Vertical Jump
1) TEMPORAL PHASES Preparatory Propulsive

2) JOINT MOTIONS
Ankle Dorsiflexed Plantarflexed
Knee Flexed Extended
Hip Flexed Extended
hyperextended extended
shoulder
3) MUSCULAR
CONTRACTION Ankle extensors- eccentric Plantar flexors-concentric
Knee extensors- eccentric Knee extensors- concentric
Hip extensors- eccentric Hip extensors- concentric
Shoulder extensors- Shoulder extensors-
concentric concentric

4) RAPID JOINT ANGULAR End of preparatory phase Beginning of Propulsive

ACCELERATIONS phase

5) Extreme ROM Hyperextension Full extension

Assignment:
Chart the following
 1) Running
 2) Squatting
 3) Overhand throwing
Use of EMG in Biomechanical
Analysis to Improve Training
 Use of EMG in training Improvement