Posted: July 21, 2005

Athletics: Helsinki Biomechanics Research Project Will Allow “A New View” Of Athletes' Performances

Monte Carlo - Led by renowned experts, Professor Paavo Komi of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland and Professor Gert-Peter Brüggemann of the German Sports University in Cologne, Germany, the IAAF is delighted to announce that Helsinki will be the host of a major biomechanics research project, the first held at an IAAF World Championships in Athletics since 1997.

The gathering of scientific data in Helsinki offers a unique opportunity for coaches to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their athletes, while for the Media and General Public the data enhances understanding of athletic performances with detailed background information about the technical reasons for success or failure.

The project aims to encourage athletics fans and Media to consider a “new view” of athletics, based on scientific and technical evidence for performance and success.

The project will focus on the semi-finals and finals (men and women) of the following events:

(a) 100m, 200m, 400m 
(b) 1500m, 5000m, 10000m
(c)  Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump and Pole Vault 
(d) Javelin Throw

The research team will perform 3-dimensional motion analysis of the jumping, running events and selected throwing events (Javelin Throw) and measure directly velocity and velocity changes during the sprints and the horizontal jumps. Centres of mass trajectories, joint angles and kinetic energy changes of the jumpers will be analyzed to find out which limiting factors influence the final results.

The main aim of the project is to acquire up to date data regarding the technique used by the world’s best athletes.

What is outstanding about the Helsinki project is that Force Measurement systems have been installed in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium for the jumping events. This means that, for the first time ever during a major competition, vertical ground reaction forces will be measured during the last two strides and take-off phase. EMFI (high-tech ferro-electret film sensors) technique will also be applied. These measurements will be unique and will greatly improve our general knowledge about limiting factors in these events.

In addition, a special pole planting box will be installed for the Pole Vault finals. This will allow measurement of the most significant data regarding the mechanical work done on the pole by the athlete during the pole bending and stretching phase. For the first time, it will be possible to measure the impact of the pole in the box; this will reveal how much energy has been absorbed and how much of the energy stored in the pole can be transformed for use by the athletes. In addition, it will be possible to compare men and women, as well as the potential energy delivered by poles of different stiffness.

In running events and during the run-ups for jumping events, velocity and velocity changes will be measured by lasers (Laveg) and radar guns.

The total number of the research staff for the Helsinki Biomechanical Research Project will be 20 people, including 3-4 external experts from Japan and Germany.

After detailed and sophisticated data analysis, detailed results, a DVD and Final Report will be presented during an IAAF Conference which will be open to the Media. This is scheduled to take place in October 2006 during the “Conference in Memory of Carmelo Bosco” at the IAAF ATC in Kourtane, Finland. A preliminary project report will also appear in the IAAF publication, New Studies in Athletics (issue 1/2006).

Three dimensional motion analyses will use state of the art optical techniques. Two and more cameras will videotape each event and allow a 3D-reconstruction of the athletes’ action. Cameras will be located outside the field and will not disturb athletes, spectators or the Media. Digitalization and further analyses of the video sequences will be performed immediately after the finals or semi-finals.

For more detailed information please contact:

Elio.locatelli@iaaf.org
Harald.Muller@iaaf.org
Helsinki Biomechanics Research Project Team Leaders
 Prof. Paavo V. Komi
Neuromuscular Research Center, Department of Biology of Physical Activity,
University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Prof. Gert-Peter Brüggemann
Institute for Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University Cologne, Germany


 

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