ERBAL
- Space Physiology
- Robotics
- …
- Space Physiology
- Robotics
ERBAL
- Space Physiology
- Robotics
- …
- Space Physiology
- Robotics
Biomechanical Analysis of the Lumbar spine during a Golf Swing
By Dr. Walck and Quinn Guzman (ERAU Mechanical Engineering Student)
Objective:
The objective of this project is to study the effects that the golf swing has on the lumbar spine. This research can be used to help study potential causes of injury around the L4 and L5 vertebrae. The goal is to be able to apply injury prevention methods through biomechanical adjustments that will not hinder athletic performance. Many models and motion capture analysis studies show swing speeds and angles but none show reactive muscle forces and moments on the lumbar spine as this study does. The study opens a wide variety of new potential for more than just golf.
Introduction:
This study was conducted in the Embry-Riddle Biomechanical Analysis Laboratory (ERBAL) with the MicaPlex at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The study was run by Dr. Christine Dailey Walck with the assistance of graduate students David Lim, Tyler Farnese, and undergraduate assistance from Quinn Guzman. The test subject is a 5 foot 6 inch, 57.6kg, 20-year-old male golfer of advanced skill level with a handicap index of zero. He reported no current injuries and no history of surgeries from the lumbar spine and below. The model was created by merging two OpenSim models. The first is a lumbar model created by Ohio State University to study the effects of running on the lumbar spine. The second is a golf model created by Rutgers for the purpose of studying the biomechanics of the golf swing. The golf driver from the Rutgers model was imported into the Lumbar Model making it compatible with the current study. It was added by hard coding in the Golf driver as a new body. The driver.obj file needs to be added into the OpenSim geometry files folder so it can be called from when the model is opened. This is sown in figure 10 below. Using a Microsoft program called Notepad++, the model code was edited. The geometry, mass, and moments of inertia data were already provided from the Rutgers golf model. Due to the model being created in Opensim 3.0 the Rutgers model will spawn halfway in the floor when opened in OpenSim 4.0. This problem was fixable by editing the pelvis ground offset by 0.95 in the Y direction (before and after 0.75 markers were then placed on the subject to match the placements on the model. The virtual model was then scaled to have the same body dimensions as the test subject (shown in figure 11). The scaling is done by defining segments from defined marker pairs placed on the subject and scaling the segments from the subject to match the model. Then inverse kinematics was run. This adjusts the coordinates in the OpenSim model to match the movements of the markers creating a kinematic motion. The last step was to run inverse dynamics. Inverse dynamics take the ground reaction forces from the force plates and apply them as external loads to the calcaneus bones to allow for individual joints and muscle forces to be calculated.
Publications
Walck C, Guzman Q. (2020) Biomechanical Effects of the Draw Shot Golf Swing: Case Study. 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, Atlanta, GA.
Photos & Videos
Take a look and enjoy!
OpenSim Golf Simulation
Video of poster for ASB 2020
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Phone/Zoom ID:
386-226-7418
christine.walck@
© 2019