KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee running back looked like a video game model, wearing a black bodysuit covered with electrodes while performing agility tests.
Instead, biomechanics expert Patrick Moodie was collecting data about Brown's movements that could be used to help diagnose problems that might lead to future injuries or help them find ways to improve their performances.
Moodie's company, Kansas City-based Dynamic Athletics Research Institute, offered Tennessee free tests as it develops its athletic programs. Brown and four other Volunteers athletes were tested this week and another five will be tested later.
"Everything out there was saying, 'You're compared to an average,'" Moodie said. "If you have that healthy baseline, you're no longer comparing to averages. You're comparing to yourself. That's how you really track movements. That's how you see improvements."
The program uses 12 video cameras to capture the movement of the athlete's body suit and create a three-dimensional image as the athlete runs, jumps or performs sport-specific skills — such as catching balls. It also compares how the athlete's movements change as he or she becomes fatigued.
"Do they have a range of motion issue? Do they have a strength issue when they do a certain movement pattern that maybe we're not aware of right now because you can't see it with the naked eye," Tennessee director of sports medicine Jason McVeigh said. "Potentially that could be an injury risk down in the future if they're not using a normal motion pattern when they're fatigued."
Doctors, athletic trainers and strength coaches can review the information provided by DARI to see if the athlete is favoring a particular body part in a way that might lead to injury, especially non-contact injuries like stress fractures and ligament tears.
Trainers can also use the information to determine whether an athlete is fully recovered after an injury.
"The problem is most athletes will adopt a new movement to achieve that performance goal," Moodie said. "You may be doing new movements that are you going to have new aches, new pains and possibly new injuries and ping-pong all over your body."
Brown likes the competitive advantage it might bring. Tennessee is the only Southeastern Conference school using such testing and one of only a few Division I schools — most biomechanics testing is done with professional athletes, Moodie said.
"For us to be the only school in the SEC that does it, I think that gives us a bit of an edge down the road," the freshman from Wichita, Kan., said while catching his breath after testing. "You probably wont' see it short term, but I think you'll see the effects of it."
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Comments » 9
armyvol544 writes:
Brown and 4 others were tested. I wonder if one of them was Zach (Steve) Austin? I can see it now slow motion and the music.
givehim6 writes:
Now that's trend setting. I can see other SEC coachs turning green with envy now.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Cool stuff. CLK is at it again. Anything to try to gain an advantage. Way to be there, guys.
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
WD I noticed at the start of the season that our fullback was squatting down so much that his butt was on almost touching the turf which I mentioned in a post. He had to stand up from the deep squat just to take a forward step. The very next game he was in a much more athletic position and made much quicker movements forward. His blocking seemed much more effective. Every now and then I see him go back to that poor set up. He looks much improved over all. Hey WD do you think these player and coaches read these post or do you think they worked on that on their own? I will hang up and listen to your reply. Go Vols!!!
allvol32 writes:
I agree with you Witch Doctor. I've liked Austin ever since he signed with TN - he was not highly rated but he's got that Reveiz type of attitude. I think he's going to be a real team leader on and off the field over the next couple of seasons.
InertGas writes:
Way to go. We can't have a biomechanics gap.
newtonrail writes:
I thought someone replied to you before. The stance you are referring to is the normal position for an I formation Fullback. If you look at one of the few Triple Option teams left, like Ga Tech, you'll see a couple their "halfbacks" with their hand on the ground. You have to remember Tenn hasn't had a traditional Fullback that got any playing time much since Bartholomew left. It gives better "explosiveness" for blocking. Watch other I formation teams that employ a Fullback, and he'll be in the same stance.
2407westTN_VOLSfan writes:
Hey WD, what happened to your protege? I have not seen miniWD in some time! Whose bones are you using? LOL
ThurmondEppy writes:
I will never understand how it's "funny" to throw stones at anyone, much less an athlete for our own team, behind a fake internet name.
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