{"id":77,"date":"2013-04-26T19:58:02","date_gmt":"2013-04-27T02:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestperformancegroup.com\/?page_id=77"},"modified":"2014-09-25T01:13:47","modified_gmt":"2014-09-25T08:13:47","slug":"kinematic-analysis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/bestperformancegroup.com\/?page_id=77","title":{"rendered":"Kinematic Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Dr. Gary Yamaguchi’s Dynamic Modeling of Musculoskeletal Motion<\/span><\/a> – “Kinematics is the study of systems and their motions, including all possible motions that can be exhibited by the system. \u00a0As such, kinematics lies outside of the broader definition of mechanics, as no attempt is made to relate forces and torques to the corresponding motions. \u00a0However, the ability to perform rigorous kinematic analyses in 3D is critical to predicting the forces arising from inertial sources. \u00a0Vector kinematics is an essential foundation of movement biomechanics.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\"optotrak6\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I have over 15 years specialization in the measurement and analysis of joint kinematics for sports performance and orthopedic studies. \u00a0I have experience implementing both vector kinematics as well as more classical trigonometric-based biomechanical methodologies. \u00a0But the majority of my work utilizes the much more powerful vectorized approach of Kane’s Method. \u00a0The ability to simultaneously work in multiple reference frames greatly simplifies kinematic and subsequent dynamic analyses in 3D.<\/p>\n


\n<\/a>\"Fig3_EulerRotPelvis_2<\/a>\"Fig4_7DOFArm<\/a><\/p>\n

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One of the biggest reasons for preferring Kane’s vectorized approach is because the majority of my 3D experimental kinematic analyses are used for subsequent 3D foward dynamic simulations. \u00a0I have found using Kane’s Method for the development of forward dynamic musculoskeletal models is much easier and faster to implement in my 3D dynamic simulation projects so the use of the associated vectorized approach for kinematic analysis is a seamless transition.<\/p>\n

\"Player<\/a>In many of my sports performance applications, it is not necessary to create 3D forward dynamic models. \u00a0Rather, it is only necessary to analyze and evaluate kinematic sequencing and joint kinematics at specific instances in time. \u00a0For these studies, custom written code can be used to calculate joint kinematics during the event of interest. \u00a0Also, software programs such as AMM 3D-Golf (formerly Skill Technologies) and LifeMOD can be used for animation capabilities in these analyses. \u00a0LifeMOD is a very powerful turnkey software solution that provides great kinematic and kinetic output visualization capabilities. \u00a0However, if one is only interested in kinematic analysis, then LifeMOD is probably overkill due to the cost of the program due to the overall power of the software platform. \u00a0For those looking for just kinematic animation and visualization capabilities, AMM 3D provides a very good alternative as they are primarily a kinematic based software solution and do not provide any inverse or forward dynamics capabilities. \u00a0I have used AMM 3D-Golf as an animation package for a number of different sports performance studies, including golf, baseball throwing and hitting, and football throwing and running. \u00a0It is only necessary to write custom conversion code to format the output motion data into the appropriate format for AMM 3D visualization requirements.<\/p>\n

\"bottom\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Another option it to just use the kinematic visualization capabilities that are built in to the motion capture system that is used for data capture. \u00a0Most systems provide a relatively good animation interface to visualize the kinematics. \u00a0Some systems require post-processing of the data before animation of the data is possible. \u00a0Some systems also require plug-ins for kinematic visualization.<\/p>\n

\"golf_graphs-spinal_twist_torques\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One important consideration that should be given more thought is the use of motion capture system toolboxes for processing the raw motion data. \u00a0In most circumstances, the built-in toolboxes allow for adequate processing of the motion data for any animation or visualization capabilities. \u00a0However, I find it extremely powerful and necessary to investigate other programs for post-processing the data. \u00a0I personally use custom written MATLAB routines to post-process all of my motion capture data. \u00a0I have found that the filtering routines I have researched and implemented provide much better results than any of the built-in toolboxes. \u00a0This is especially true if the kinematic data will be used for subsequent dynamic modeling studies. \u00a0While it may seem trivial to just use a generic filter to process all of the motion data, a more detailed analysis of alternative filtering routines can often times result in much more robust motion data which can have a big effect on downstream inverse and forward dynamics routines. \u00a0I hardly ever use processed motion capture outputs and usually ask for raw motion file outputs when I use external labs for data collection so that I know first hand how the data is processed and what changes have been made to the data.<\/p>\n

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