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Hello Podiatry Arena

I am looking to do PhD research into biomechanics of sporting activities but one of the aspects that I am lacking in is any experience of using motion analysis equipment such as Vicon. I am currently not affiliated wth any Universities so do not have direct access to any equipment. Any advice or guidance on trying to get experience in this field would be greatly appreciated.

 

I am puzzled as to how you can be considering a PhD but not be affiliated with any university. Can you let me know how that works?

I would have expected that if you are doing a PhD on a sports biomechanics topic then you would be enrolled in a university and it would give you (free) access to a video motion analysis program.

Speaking from my limited experience, it appears that universities with faculties/departments in this area tend to have licence arrangements so that (undergraduate or post graduate) students can access a video motion analysis program without having to own it or even to download it (i.e., you would use it through a virtual private network). It means you just tap into it when you need it, without having to bother about licences or fees (you just need to be enrolled in a relevant course).

I only have had experience with using Dartfish. One of the good features of using Dartfish is that you can use video from your own camera and then use Dartfish to work on that, instead of buying special video equipment. The university faculty might have specialist cameras to use, such as for high speed or heat detection.

I would have thought that by the time you are doing a PhD on a sports biomechanics topic you would have done some prior course work involving video motion analysis. While Dartfish has its own (online and downloadable) tutorials on the technical features of the software, there are additional skills to be learnt in using the analysis – that's a large topic for another time.

If you do get access through a uni, institute for sport or commerical research company, then you need deep pockets.