Sankey, S (2020) The role of biomechanical markers of dynamic stability in the execution of highly dynamic tasks. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

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Abstract

The primary aim in human locomotion is to control the body’s centre of mass sufficiently to perform the task as safely and as efficiently as possible. Control of the centre of mass is likely to involve the interaction of several movement strategies each deployed for a specific role. When the task becomes more dynamic involving movement in multiple planes, the task becomes more difficult and the movement strategies need to adapt. If those movement strategies begin to fail, or involve dangerous deviations, perhaps due to degradation of the physical and neuromuscular mechanisms required to execute them, then control of the centre of mass and consequently whole-body dynamic stability is compromised. When whole-body dynamic stability is compromised, this may lead to dynamic stability issues at a joint level, which may be a precursor to undesirable joint moments and an increase in injury risk. That said, research has yet to provide a holistic account of whole-body dynamic stability for highly dynamic tasks. Therefore, it was the intention in this doctoral thesis to outline and explore the interplay between movement strategies that can contribute significantly to whole-body dynamic stability and mechanisms that may indicate potential injury risk. In this research project, biomechanical observation of side cutting was utilised for its relevance with regards to sports performance and association with common lower limb injuries and even injury screening. Initially, study one focused on methodological concerns with the reliability of the kinetic and kinematic data typically derived from side cutting. Our findings identified new insights into variability of kinematic and kinetic data in a detailed view across phases of ground contact. In study two we developed a novel, holistic approach to quantify the movement strategies that contribute to control of the centre of mass, or whole-body dynamic stability, in side cutting. This approach has allowed us to express original insights into the key mechanisms for medial acceleration of the centre of mass; the extent of destabilisation that excessive ground reaction forces can generate; and the interaction of key movement strategies adopted to correct for destabilisation and retrieve control. Furthermore, in studies three and four we have been able to demonstrate the robustness of our measurement of movement strategies in quantifying responses to increasingly challenging scenarios. In addition, the final two studies allowed us to highlight the need for adaptability in movement strategies between tasks of varied complexity, and the transition between movement strategies within the side cutting task itself. Overall, our findings may provide valuable information for the performer and supporting practitioners to develop training strategies based on biomechanical markers of whole-body dynamic stability, which may preclude negative injurious consequences.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	whole-body dynamic stability; medio-lateral centre of mass control; side cutting; anterior cruciate ligament
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport & Exercise Sciences
Date Deposited:	15 Jun 2020 11:22
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2022 13:45
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00013082
Supervisors:	Vanrenterghem, J, Robinson, MA and Bennett, S
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/13082

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