Motion Analysis System

Motion analysis is the practice of examining human movement with an eye to find the most efficient and graceful way to make the movement. Using sophisticated technology, we can capture video of our movements, and then examine them in fine detail. Since the most efficient movements also are the ones that contribute the least to injury, finding inefficiencies in motion not only improves performance, but also health.

Components of a Motion Analysis System

The first part of a motion analysis system is the video camera. While you don't need a fancy video camera for motion analysis, you should make sure that you have a slow motion option. This option, whether on a digital or film camera, will increase the film speed so that more frames are captured during a given time. The result is more data for you to look at as you analyze your form.

The second part of the system will be the hardware. This essentially consists of a computer hard drive and a monitor. The hard drive can be used for other computer applications, but is configured specifically for high-resolution video output and manipulation. The screen is usually a high-definition color monitor, and may be one piece attached to the hard drive.

Finally, the software is perhaps the most important part. This is what lets you advance your view from frame to frame, zooming in and out and varying playback speeds to best understand a given motion. It is what helps you find the errors in your form, which you can then set about correcting.