This article was taken from the January 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Biomechanics trainers are on hand to ensure Olympians will shape up and be in absolute peak condition for London 2012. "There are two types of biomechanics," says Martin Haines, chairman of the UK Biomechanics Coaching Association (UKBCA). "Extrinsic biomechanics assess how well you perform a task or movement; intrinsic biomechanics shows how the body is stacked up in mechanical terms and determines your capacity to perform extrinsic movements."
UKBCA teaches the coaches and trainers working with Team GB's gymnastics and triathlon teams. Along with using super-slow-motion video, their techniques for extrinsic biomechanics include using robots to measure muscle force, and lumbar monitors to display how the spine is functioning.
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This article was originally published by WIRED UK
