Biomechanics – A Step Back in Time

 My introduction into biomechanics, the other half of performance analysis, was a book entitled “Introduction to Sports Biomechanics: Analysing Human Movement Patterns” by Roger Barlett (2007) (Right).  Chapter after chapter, I encountered terminology I have not heard in 13 years since GCSE Physical Education and Science.    Terms included flexion/ extension, abduction/ adduction, planes of movement, inertia, torque, moments, scalars, vectors, axis of rotation, Newton Laws of Motion, joint classification, anatomy, bone structure, muscle activation etc.  Some light revision of old textbooks perhaps (below):

What does this mean for me?  Over the summer I have to relearn this basic knowledge, familiarise myself with the terminology and practice recognising movement types, e.g. flexion etc.  It is only then the intervention section (only 1 chapter out of 6) becomes easier to understand.  More work for thevolleyballanalyst.

After reading the book, it makes me feel better that I did not undertake any biomechanical intervention on players’ volleyball skills last season.  It is because without this knowledge, I would not have done it right.