typical movements. The abnormalities are
In many countries of the world, Sports
compared with normal gait function at
Engineering is a recognized profession and
baseline. Multiple sources of data are used
the government provides support to train
to understand conflicting observations.
these professionals. Only these recognized professionals are allowed to advise
Source: cricketique.wordpress.com
The algorithm used to transform the data
the sportsmen of the country. But, in Sri
collected in walking trials into the infor-
Lanka, there are no professionals specially
mation required for clinical interpretation
trained in Sports Biomechanics although
is called the Clinical Gait Model. As an
the presence of a Sports Engineer is very
example, the 3D displacement data col-
important for an Olympic Team. This is
lected with the markers placed on the
a serious problem that the authorities
body is used to calculate the angles that
responsible must be concerned about for
describe how the body is moving. The
development in sports of Sri Lanka.
model should be a general one that could
cameras are used to measure motion,
be used for subjects of ages ranging from
electrodes on the surface of the skin are
small children to adults and also it should
WASUNDARA JAYAWARDANA
used to observe muscle activity and force
be suitable to be used in a clinical setting.
Department of Electrical & Electronic
platforms are embedded in a walkway
Clinical Gait Analysis is one of the best
Engineering
to monitor the forces and torques of the
methods to identify foot, leg, knee or hip
(Final Year)
subject and the ground. The team that
pains arose due to sports injuries and
collaborates to perform a clinical gait
professional sportsmen tend to use this
analysis includes a physician, a physical
technique frequently nowadays. Although
therapist and an engineer or technician.
this technique was developed for over a
References
hundred years, biomedical engineers and
1. J.D. Enderle, S.M. Blanchard, J.D.
External markers are placed on the sur-
physicists are in the opinion that there
Bronzino, “Biomechanics” in Introduction
face of the subject’s skin and they are
still remains an opportunity for a vast
to Biomedical Engineering, 2nd Edition,
observed through special video cameras
development in the process.
Burlington, Elsevier Academic Press, 2005,
while he walks on a straight level pathway. This motion is then combined with
muscle activity and the reaction of the
subject with the ground to produce a biomechanical analysis of locomotion.
The following data are collected during a
clinical gait analysis;
• Video recordings
• Clinical measures
• Stride and temporal gait data, such as
step length, cadence and walking speed
• 3D joint and segment motion plots
• 3D joint torque or moment and power
results
• Electromyography tracings (to observe
muscle activity)
• A measurement of metabolic energy
expenditure
The data collected is then used to monitor the subject’s movements accurately
ch. 4, sec. 6, pp. 169-186
“In sports, the
knowledge of biomechanics is considered to be very
important as it is
the most common
method used to
improve an athlete’s performance
and also to identify
injuries and treat
them.”
2. P. McGinnis. (n.d.). Apply Biomechanics
to Improve Techniques. [Online] Available
at : http://www.humankinetics.com/
[Accessed on July 22nd, 2016]
3. R.B. Davis, S. Ounpuu, P.A. DeLuca, M.J.
Romness. (2002). Clinical Gait Analysis
and its Role in Treatment-Decision
Making. [Online]. Available at : http://
www.medscape.com/ [Accessed on July
22nd, 2016]
ensuring that no change is done to his
Gauge Newsletter
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