PhD project – progress update
The aim of the PhD study is to biomechanically analyze compensation strategies between light (70%Fmax) and heavy loads (90%+ Fmax). To do this, we recorded 31 athletes from the Austrian national powerlifting team (or placing at least top 3 in the Austrian Championship) in squats and deadlifts with increasing loads kinematically (3D motion capture) and dynamically (force plates and EMG). Every recording took us between 3 and 4 hours per subject. Marker and EMG placement alone was a 60-minute-task, because more than 80 markers were necessary.
In September we will continue with lower body and torso MRI of every athlete to calculate muscle volumes and moment arms. All this to create musculoskeletal models that can be used to measure changes in joint torques, muscle forces and joint loads between trials. The outcome is intended to help coaches to assign individual movement changes to their respective strengths and weaknesses to create more efficient training plans.
