Biomechanical Analysis

Video analysis is key to identifying and highlighting biomechanical problems. Through performance of an action, for example, bowling, striking, serving or even kicking, we can help to identify problems in the biomechanics and slow down the action so that we can show you. We find that bringing your coach with you can help to improve technique and prevent injuries before they happen. During the assessment, we can highlight the dysfunctional regions and prescribe exercises to improve balance and co-ordination in problem areas.

Just like each person who visits our clinic, we see ourselves as being unique. Whilst clients often comment on the level of care and detail of information they receive on their first visit, our care does not stop there! We make sure that we involve either a Sports Therapist or an Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist in the initial consultation, therefore making sure that everyone is working together. More importantly, it is important to us that everyone, including you, understands what is going on at every step. A personalised programme can be put together that can:

·         correct muscle imbalance and improve neurological control

·         prevent recurrent injury, and

·         improve performance and get you results!

Our Gait-Scan™ system is a revolutionary diagnostic tool for assessing our clients’ biomechanics and making sure the shoes and trainers they use are adequate and not causing problems. Gait-Scan™ has an industry high 4096 sensors and scans at an industry high 300Hz (scans per second). These measurements provide today's Healthcare Professionals with a sophisticated explanation of foot mechanics and assists them with orthotic and/or shoe solutions.

TOG Gait-Scan™ is the most technologically advanced gait analysis system available. However, it does not compare to how sophisticated your foot is. Whilst we use the Gait-Scan™ system to assess foot biomechanics, we also have a Podiatrist working with us to make sure the correct options are chosen.

Humans have slow vision. The human eye can only separate a maximum of 10–12 images per second. There are even some suggestions amongst scientists that events lasting less than 0.25 seconds cannot usually be seen clearly, if at all. Although coaches are irreplaceable in analysing athletes’ techniques, often the coach's eye cannot extract all the necessary details in a live sporting situation.

Ask yourself, is my injury the result of something that my coach cannot see?

Video cameras create the illusion of motion by ‘tricking’ the human eye. Video cameras play 25 flashing still pictures each second. As the eye cannot separate those pictures, we get the feeling of continuous movement. The use of a video camera is a very effective tool to help you to improve sporting technique and detect why your injury is happening. Our Quintic™ Video Analysis software enables video capture at 25, 50, 100 and 250 frames per second (fps). At 100fps, each still image is 10 milliseconds apart, capable of capturing even the fastest of human movement. In addition to just one video camera, we have the capability of capturing up to four live video images, simultaneously, should we need to.

More and more athletes, coaches and scientists are using video feedback as a coaching aid. Quintic™ Video Analysis can very quickly help you as a professional athlete to understand the basic fundamentals of a specific movement, and where this breaks down. Providing you with immediate performance feedback via our video software is a very powerful analysis tool, and a great way to prevent injuries. The images could be used to assist your coach in their task, as your performance can be repeated after an event and slowed down during critical phases.

By comparing performances of your previous movements, or even other athletes, our software enables you to compare video images via the computer screen. Differences between techniques can be identified (competition versus training) and this information made available immediately to the athlete. We find that the information gathered from this process is useful in highlighting dysfunctional areas and enhancing athletic performance.

The body is like a machine. This philosophy is even more apparent when you look at the top-level sports athletes we have helped over the years. The amount of force generated by their limbs to throw, kick a ball, cycle, swim or run makes them who they are. When assessing their walking and running patterns, this can either be done on the treadmill, which is useful, but also on the track or pitch, which is more accurate.

Imagine this: when a foot is on a treadmill, the work is mainly being done by the motor of the treadmill. When the foot falls, the body weight is translated over the foot but, at the same time, the belt of the treadmill carries the body backwards. Therefore, this is an inaccurate way of looking at how the complex gait pattern works. Little propulsive force is generated by the foot. We agree that the treadmill has its role in gait analysis, but we take it one step further. By looking at how the foot reacts by analysing the gait cycle on the track, we can re-create the exact forces the foot and athlete go through when running in a straight line and around bends on the track or field. This gives us a fuller picture of the action and reaction of the foot to loading and un-loading cycles.