Movement Analysis Using a Three-Dimensional Electromagnetic Position Tracking System

This type of testing has been used to study the technical movements of athletes from different sports (tennis, basketball, handball and volleyball).

These non-invasive protocols use electromagnetic position sensors placed on different body segments being assessed in order to determine the kinematics of the athlete’s movement during technical execution.

The following equipment is available to carry out the testing:

• Polhemus Liberty 240/8 position tracking system (Vermont, Canada).
  The test is supervised by two specialists in sports sciences.

These assessments are accompanied by a technical report provided to the athlete after completion of the testing protocol, together with recommendations aimed at improving performance in the technical movement analysed.

This type of service has been requested by athletes to analyse movement patterns in different sports and optimise motor performance. The testing can be requested individually by an athlete or collectively by a team or sports organisation in any discipline interested in understanding athletes’ movement patterns in order to optimise performance during technical movements.

This type of test has been used by the research team in sports where the technical movement performed may be susceptible to improvement or modification. On the one hand, this can help improve performance and, on the other, prevent potential injuries resulting from repetition of the movement analysed.

The main advantages of movement analysis using electromagnetic position sensors are:

• Recording of movement patterns involving up to 8 body segments, making it possible to determine which patterns fall within the optimal range compared with athletes of the same sport, performance level and age.
• Three-dimensional position analysis, enabling movement to be measured along the three axes (vertical, anteroposterior and mediolateral), as well as the angles used during execution (azimuth, elevation and rotation).
• Improved recording accuracy, with a sampling frequency of up to 240 Hz and a resolution of 0.0004 cm.
• Ideal for applications involving the study of human movement and the analysis of sports technique.
• Reports and proposals for optimising the movement pattern analysed, aimed at individualising training loads and adapting them to the athlete.

Tests using electromagnetic position sensors are available. In addition, the research team has conducted numerous studies in which this type of testing has been used to analyse athletes’ technical movements.

• High-Performance Sport (Sports Clubs and Federations).
• Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centres.
• Technical Teams (Coaches and Strength and Conditioning Specialists).
• Sports Equipment Design and Development (Body–Equipment Interaction Analysis).

Francisco Javier Moreno Hernández – University Research Institute Centre for Sport Research