Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Improve Performance

Objectives:

• Understand the difference between a qualitative and quantitative biomechanical analysis
• List the steps involved in a qualitative biomechanical analysis for technique improvement
• Understand the process of developing a theoretical mechanically based cause-and-effect model of a skill
• Describe the important guidelines for observing a performance
• Understand how to identify and evaluate errors in performance
• Understand how to give instruction to students or athletes that will help them correct errors in technique

Show videos of amazing techniques

1. Description
2. Observation
3. Evaluation
4. Instruction

• Gain a fundamental knowledge of the skill
• Know the rules (Why is this important? Example 1, Example 2)
• Hockey
• Discus
• Pole Vault
• Baseball
• Purpose of the Skill (in mechanical terms)
• Tennis
• Football
• Characteristics of Most Effective Technique
• High Jump

• Who will you observe?
• What will be the conditions?
• Where will you observe from?
• What will you look for?

• Identify errors
• Evaluate errors
• Does the error expose the performer to the danger of injury?
• Who are your clients?
• How easy is it to correct the error?
• Is the error a result of another error that occured earlier in the performance?
• How great an effect does the error have on the performance?
• Is the error or deficiency due to poorly designed or inappropriate equipment?
• Is the error or deficiency due to inadequate strength?

• Communicate with the performer
• Correct the error