The biomechanical analysis of human movement plays a key role in the fields of sports science and rehabilitation. In particular, the study of running biomechanics offers important insights in performance optimization and injury prevention. Among the tools available, OpenSim allows the development of subject-specific musculoskeletal models, enabling the estimation of important variables such as joint angles, moments and powers. This thesis investigates sprinting biomechanics in two athletes: an able-bodied sprinter and a Paralympic athlete with a left transtibial amputation. The experimental trials were conducted at the Palaindoor of Padua, using a dedicated instrumentation (Olympia smart track), including motion capture cameras and force platforms embedded along the track. The collected data were preprocessed using Vicon Nexus and MATLAB. Data were then analyzed parallelly with two different approaches: OpenSim and PROLYMPIA, a biomechanical analysis software developed by researchers from the University of Padua, in collaboration with the University of Verona and the INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work). The primary aim was to analyze the running mechanics of the two athletes, with intra-athlete and inter-athlete comparisons. A secondary objective was to compare the results obtained from the two software to assess their consistency and identify any significant discrepancies. The results obtained were generally in line with existing literature but revealed differences between the outputs of OpenSim and PROLYMPIA, especially in joint moments and powers, highlighting the need for further investigations.

Biomechanical Analysis of Sprinting in Olympic and Paralympic Athletes using OpenSim

GENTILINI, GIULIA
2024/2025

Abstract

The biomechanical analysis of human movement plays a key role in the fields of sports science and rehabilitation. In particular, the study of running biomechanics offers important insights in performance optimization and injury prevention. Among the tools available, OpenSim allows the development of subject-specific musculoskeletal models, enabling the estimation of important variables such as joint angles, moments and powers. This thesis investigates sprinting biomechanics in two athletes: an able-bodied sprinter and a Paralympic athlete with a left transtibial amputation. The experimental trials were conducted at the Palaindoor of Padua, using a dedicated instrumentation (Olympia smart track), including motion capture cameras and force platforms embedded along the track. The collected data were preprocessed using Vicon Nexus and MATLAB. Data were then analyzed parallelly with two different approaches: OpenSim and PROLYMPIA, a biomechanical analysis software developed by researchers from the University of Padua, in collaboration with the University of Verona and the INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work). The primary aim was to analyze the running mechanics of the two athletes, with intra-athlete and inter-athlete comparisons. A secondary objective was to compare the results obtained from the two software to assess their consistency and identify any significant discrepancies. The results obtained were generally in line with existing literature but revealed differences between the outputs of OpenSim and PROLYMPIA, especially in joint moments and powers, highlighting the need for further investigations.
2024
Biomechanical Analysis of Sprinting in Olympic and Paralympic Athletes using OpenSim
Biomechanical
OpenSim
Sprinting
Paralympic
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/85218