Is movement variability important for sports biomechanists?

Bartlett, Roger; Wheat, Jonathan; Robins, Matthew T.

doi:10.1080/14763140701322994

Cited by 360 publications

(335 citation statements)

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“…Human movement variability has been described as having a functional role (Hamill, van Emmerick, Heiderscheit and Li, 1999;van Emmerick, Hamill, and McDermott, 2005;Bartlett et al, 2007), but it has also been described as having a component of "noise" (Wolpert, 2007;Cohen and Sternad, 2009) and as being due to redundancy in the sensorimotor system (Newell and Corcos, 1993). As variability will always be present in human movement (Bartlett et al, 2007) it will have an important influence on the success of a given task and therefore the technique adopted by athletes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As variability will always be present in human movement (Bartlett et al, 2007) it will have an important influence on the success of a given task and therefore the technique adopted by athletes. Failing to consider such an important aspect can lead to optimal solutions that are not representative of human technique, resulting in incorrect conclusions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This means that the gymnast has to perform the correct actions at the correct time in order to perform the upstart successfully. Given that human movement will always contain some level of variability (Bartlett, Wheat and Robins, 2007) it is not surprising that, when kinematic variability is included in the optimisation, a criterion based on maximising success produces a technique close to the recorded performance. Previous research has shown that minimising joint torque may explain the technique used by gymnasts (Hiley and Yeadon, 2012a), although, in that example there was more than one recognised technique for producing the movement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating optimal technique in a noisy environment: Application to the upstart on uneven bars

Hiley

Yeadon

2013

Human Movement Science

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Additional Information:• NOTICE: this is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Human Movement Science.Changes ABSTRACTThe upstart is a fundamental skill in gymnastics which is used to transfer a gymnast from a swing beneath the bar to a position above the bar. The aim of this study was to optimise the technique in the upstart on the uneven bars in order to determine the underlying control strategy used by gymnasts. A previous attempt based on minimising joint torque had failed to find a satisfactory solution without forcing the joint angle histories to pass through a "via-point" (Yamasaki et al., 2010). Using a computer simulation model of a gymnast and bar, the technique (joint angle histories) used in the upstart was optimised under three different criteria: minimising joint torque, minimising joint torque change and maximising success in the presence of movement variability. The third optimisation introduced "noise" into the joint angle time histories based on measurements of kinematic variability. All three optimisations were started from the technique used by a gymnast competing in an Olympic Games uneven bars final. Root mean squared (RMS) differences between the recorded and optimal joint angle time histories were computed. The two optimisations based on minimising joint torque diverged from the gymnast's technique. However, the technique based on maximising the number of successful performances in a noisy environment remained close to the gymnast's technique. It is concluded that the underlying strategy used in the upstart is not based on minimisation of joint torque; rather, it is based on ensuring success in the task despite the inherent variability in technique. Gymnasts develop techniques that are able to cope with the level of kinematic variability present in their movements.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating optimal technique in a noisy environment: Application to the upstart on uneven bars

Hiley

Yeadon

2013

Human Movement Science

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“…A certain degree of instability facilitates the emergence of exploratory behaviour aiming the search for functional movement solutions (Davids, Glazier, et al, 2003). From this perspective, movement variability has the potential to be functional in stabilizing environmental adaptations, reducing the risk of injuries, and in facilitating changes in coordination patterns (Bartlett, et al, 2007). Together, the research discussed above from Nordin-Bates (2012), Brisson andAlain (1996), and Davids and colleagues (2003), supports the developmental view that sourcing knowledge from other fields such as sport, psychology, music, and acting can promote superior development rather than single exposure to the dance field.…”

Section: Outsourcing Knowledge From Other Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The acquisition of pedagogical expertise in dance : a constraints-led approach

Rodrigues¹

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The aim of this PhD research program was to explore the acquisition of pedagogical expertise in dance teachers. A review of the literature on dance pedagogy and expertise revealed three limitations in relation to dance teachers' pedagogical development. First, the literature suggested that a dancer's transition to teacher was traditionally based on replication of previous teachers' behaviours.Second, the literature additionally identified that there appears to be a tendency within the dance field to accept as dance teachers those who have rich and varied experiences as expert dance performers; although they may have little pedagogical knowledge and experience. Thirdly, there is not a unified theoretical consensus on how to analyse the acquisition of pedagogical expertise in dance teachers.The majority of theoretical approaches to dance pedagogy have been based on traditional information processing theory and within the theoretical framework of cognitive psychology. This latter approach can be viewed as limited because of its exclusive focus on the individual and neglect of important ecology influencing an individual's behaviour. Some promising research in the dance and sport literature has theorised individuals as dynamical systems performing in their ecologies. The ecological dynamics theoretical approach is multidisciplinary in nature and allows theorisation of a range of factors in human performance systems, such as those found in dance. Within this approach, the constraints-led theoretical framework allows analysis of environmental, task, and individual factors. Given the lack of prior research in the field and the variety of dance experience to be studied, it was concluded that combining the constraints-led theoretical framework with a qualitative approach would be appropriate to undertake a retrospective investigation of the potential constraints influencing the acquisition of pedagogical expertise. The following research questions (RQs) guided the general enquiry. This research project included an initial data-driven thematic analysis followed by a theory-driven thematic analysis. In other words, both inductive and deductive thematic analyses were conducted and, after extensive analysis and refinement, the interpretation of rich data concerning participants' life experiences, allowed for the identification of five major themes that influenced their acquisition of pedagogical expertise. These themes were then mapped into the constraints-led theoretical framework as environmental constraints (mentors, role models, and students); task constraints (rules); and individual constraints (needs). These environmental constraints were then explored with reference to previous research related to each specific theme (i.e., mentors, role models, students, rules, and needs) as well as with reference to empirical research and the theoretical principles of the constraints-led theoretical framework.The results of this research study provide theoretical as well as potential practical contributions to the fields of e...

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“…WHEAT; ROBINS, 2007) and that different motor strategies can be used to achieve the same motor task (CLARK, 1995;IRWIN, GARETH;KERWIN, 2007a;PREATONI et al, 2013).…”

Section: Electromyographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomechanical analysis of cross on training and competition

Carrara¹

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Is movement variability important for sports biomechanists?

Cited by 360 publications

References 40 publications

Investigating optimal technique in a noisy environment: Application to the upstart on uneven bars

Investigating optimal technique in a noisy environment: Application to the upstart on uneven bars

The acquisition of pedagogical expertise in dance : a constraints-led approach

Biomechanical analysis of cross on training and competition

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