Biomechanics

Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to living organisms, examining the internal and external forces acting on them and the effects produced by these forces. It is a large and varied scientific field that combines the disciplines of biology and engineering mechanics and utilises the tools of physics, mathematics, and engineering to study everything from the molecular level up to the effect of gravity on entire skeletons.

A large proportion of biomechanics research is concerned with sport, aiming to improve technique, reduce injury and understand athletic ability. It forms a large proportion of the work of sports scientists.

An athlete's image is overlaid with a 'virtual skeleton' as she competes in the long jump

This project developed from one of several ideas about how the BBC might continue to develop its sports coverage in the run up to the Olympics in 2012. It looks into the potential for using the analysis techniques and tools of biomechanics and sports science to provide a more engaging experience for the viewer by giving new and interesting insights into the performance of the athletes.

There are three main aspects to the project: firstly we are developing tools that can capture information about an athlete’s position during competition, but without using sensors or markers on the athlete that might affect their performance. Secondly we’re creating suitable biomechanical models into which we can put our motion data so we can extract meaningful statistics such as the power or energy the athlete is exerting or the angle of their movement. These statistics can be used to compare performance with other athletes or show how a single athlete’s performance has changed over time. Finally, we are examining how we might communicate this information to the viewer, looking into what might be the most suitable medium and how to make it as appealing and insightful as possible.