You are to assume the role of a Sports Scientist. A coach has referred his athlete to you for a biomechanical assessment of technique because the athlete in question is underperforming in training
and competition and the coach suspects an underlying injury; the athlete is a long jumper.
You are required to give a 15 minute oral presentation of your assessment (to the coach), which should include:
i. A structured analysis framework (see chapter 2: Introduction to Sports Biomechanics. 2nd Edition, Ed. Roger Bartlett). Specifically, you should provide an overview of the comprehensive
approach to qualitative analysis, making specific reference to the task at hand (your assessment of the long jumper).
ii. Identification of the critical (mechanical) features of the long jump that you have derived through deterministic modelling (note: this is part of your preparation stage of your structured
analysis framework).
iii. Your observation of the technique/critical features of the performance. Here you should describe your methodological approach and highlighting the important considerations for video
analysis (note: this part of your observation stage of your structured analysis framework).
iv. Your evaluation of the technique/critical features of the performance (note: this is the evaluation and diagnosis stage of your structured analysis framework). Here you should present the
findings from your analysis performed in Dartfish (critical features relating to take off velocity), whilst attempting to make comparisons with representative values published in the literature.
You should take the position, based on your findings (that the critical features [1-7] fall below elite performance), that the athlete is suffering from a mild form of Achilles Tendinopathy.
v. An overview of the aetiology, diagnosis and management of Achilles Tendinopathy (note: this is the intervention and review stage of your structured analysis framework).