Impact of Motion Capture in Biomechanical Science

Motion capture technology used by coaches and athletes helps track the subject's movement and record it to improve performance. 

FREMONT, CA : Today, technology is at the front-line of cutting-edge research in the medical movement, including working to rehabilitate wounded military personnel and improve world-class athletes' success. Motion capture is a critical component of the most important research centers, universities, and hospitals globally.

Optical motion capture devices are used in various applications, such as gait analysis, which allows medical practitioners a better understanding of lower limb movement. It also provides essential advantages in motor control and neuroscience by allowing substantial advances in treating patients with a variety of complex neuro-musculoskeletal injuries, including cerebral palsy and myelomeningocele.

Lately, inertial motion capture technology, which enables the movements of subjects to be monitored and documented outside the field rather than the laboratory, is now actively used to improve performance by coaches and athletes in a broad spectrum of sports. Evaluating and analyzing players and athletes makes it possible for coaches not only to enhance technique but also to modify behaviors to avoid potential injuries. It is also necessary to speed up the return to play of athletes after injuries to ensure that rehabilitation is achieved safely and minimize re-injury risk.

The technical innovations offer more knowledge than ever before to decision-makers in the medical space and try to enhance the quality of health care, not just patient care, but the quality of life for patients and athletes around the world.

Improving understanding of human motion

Technology is still evolving, and the help of academic study continually strengthens the understanding of human movement. Vicon, for instance, is currently funding research to improve the CGM 2 project. A commonly utilized biomechanical model for clinical gait analysis has been the Traditional Gait Model (CGM), first developed in the 1980s. An improved version of the CGM that preserves its strengths and corrects the vulnerabilities will be created and validated by this project. The project is still in the initial phases of development but reflects a groundbreaking new chapter in the emerging role of motion capture in the industry of biomechanics and life sciences.

In the life sciences market, motion capture is already deeply rooted. It will continue to expand human movement knowledge with the ongoing advancement of technology and closer cooperation with researchers and coaches.