Sports biomechanics seeks to gain an understanding of the mechanics of sports movements. Such questions as how the approach speed, leg plant angle and knee angle affect high jumping performance may be addressed experimentally. Questions such as why high jumpers use a curved approach may be answered using computer simulation modelling. Both approaches are evident in the research articles listed in the Group's pages. Motor control goes beyond the mechanics of movement and seeks to gain an understanding of sports technique from a perspective of coordination and neuro-muscular control. Thus while twisting somersault animationsports biomechanics may explain why a double straight somersault is mechanically unstable, motor control aims to answer how the instability may be controlled using in-flight corrections based upon proprioceptive feedback. Again computer simulation is a powerful tool for such investigations. Twisting somersaults comprise the main elements of artistic gymnastics, tumbling, trampolining, diving, and freestyle aerial skiing. Research on twisting has used computer simulation to determine the extent to which various techniques are capable of producing twist and the contributions made by such techniques to actual performances. The ability to control twist by means of in-flight corrections has been investigated by adding control systems with feedback time delays to the simulation model.
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