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Bioalchemy
Sport Science
AustraliaContact
Contact
The toolkit is made up of a program to take GPS and accelerometer data exported from an athlete tracking system, an excel spreadsheet with embedded macros for analysis and reporting, and a program to review step waveforms from particular sessions.
Much of the process is automated, and is geared towards sport scientists in the applied environment who have limited time to prepare and analyse data.
The toolkit takes the accelerometer curve from selected steps during a training session or game, then compares those curves to determine how variable they are.
It does this by identifying periods of straight line high speed running (or periods of high stride rate) from the training session or game, and extracts the acceleration curves from individual steps within those sections. Those curves are then compared against each other to determine how variable the step acceleration pattern is.
In addition, the average acceleration curve from a session is recorded for future analysis, allowing comparison of the step acceleration patterns before and after an intervention or injury.
Looking at the variability of step accelerations provides valuable information on athlete condition.
Variations from an individual's 'healthy' amount of variation in step accelerations could be an early indicator of a change in the physical state in the athlete which may eventually lead to a reduction in performance or injury
The toolkit was developed using Australian Football data, but has since been tested using football (soccer), rugby, and American football
In addition, the sport specific elements of the toolkit (such as identifying matched sections of running from games and training sessions) can be tailored to your situation.
Current measures generally focus on quantity rather than quality. An athlete can run a certain distance at a certain intensity during a training session or game, and if this varies from what is expected then that can clearly be a valuable indicator of a change in their condition.
By examining the accelerations within strides it is possible to identify changes in stride characteristics, enabling athletes who would have otherwise not shown any change to their physical state using traditional methods to be identified as 'at risk'.
Using measures of stride variability alongside traditional methods will provide additional evidence for evaluations of an athlete's physical condition.
The methods used for this toolkit have been tested against real data from an AFL season, and it is anticipated this research will be published in early 2017.
The role of variability in describing healthy movement have been widely published
The toolkit was developed using Catapult systems, but can be adapted to analyse any athlete tracking device with accelerometers and GPS where data can be exported
Reports are generated in Excel, allowing sport scientists to easily and simply incorporate results into their present reporting systems.
Yes, the toolkit can be used and general analysis completed in-house. Training in the use of the toolkit and general reporting is supplied with the initial purchase.
More advanced analysis is available on request from BioAlchemy
Final pricing is still being determined, but it is anticipated the cost of the toolkit and reporting spreadsheets, along with training in its use and a package of 8 advanced analytical reports on your data will be approximately $4000 AUD.
Additional advanced analysis will also be available on request.