Motion Analysis Project
The following activities are designed to help you meet the objectives for this module.

Purpose: This final project is to provide the students with the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in Kinesiology to the analysis of motion. Students will learn to organize their observations and present a written assessment of the chosen motion. The student must follow the procedures below to submit an individual project analyzing a sport or physical movement.

Step 1
The student must select a physical movement or sport skill and submit it to the instructor for approval. The motion or sport skill must be approved to make sure it is not too complex for the scope of this course. You must fill out the Step 1 Form that outlines what you will do for the project. Click to download.

Product for Step 1
You must have submitted a Step 1 Form to have your selected motion or sport skill approved in Week 8. Your mentor will return feedback or approval by the end of Week 11. If you do not have approval by Monday of Week 12, please contact your mentor.

Percentage of Final Project for Step 1: 15%

Step 2
Step two is to create a video of someone performing the motion or sport skill you have selected. You need to do this so that you have the ability to repeatedly view the motion while writing the report.

You can use a digital camcorder or any digital camera with video-recording capability. If you do not have either of these, you may use any VHS video camera. You are responsible to supply your own VHS videotape if you go that route. Tapes will NOT be returned by mail without a self addressed and stamped mailer. You simply need a video of the motion you are going to analyze.

You need to do the following for the video of the motion:

1. Your subject needs to wear clothing that is as tight as possible. If the person you are taping is male, you might want him to go without a shirt. If the subject is a female, you might want her to wear a bathing suit, tight shirt, etc. Your subject should also wear shorts. This is so you can see the joints move properly.
   
2. You must be close enough to your subject so that he/she fills the frame as much as possible.
   
3. The background should be a solid color that contrasts with the subject.
   
4. If the skill involves an implement, ball, etc. it needs to be included in the taping.
   
5. You must take at least three (3) trials of the skill.
   
6. You must video from at least two angles. For example, maybe from the side and the front or back. You are to select the views.
   
   

Product for Step 2
The video file of the motion you are going to analyze.

Percentage of Final Project for Step 2: 10%

Step 3
Written analysis of the motion. You are to prepare a written analysis of your selected motion. The analysis is to follow the guidelines below.

You will be responsible to analyze the motion at three major joints in the body during the motion. I have grouped the joints as follows:

Upper Body: Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist
Torso: Low Back
Lower Body: Hip, Knee, Ankle

You must select at least one joint from the upper body and one from the lower body for your analysis. The third is up to you. Joint selection is subject to approval by the instructor. The reason for this is to insure the appropriate level of involvement in the project.

Section 1: Introduction
This section of the project should include a general description of the motion, the sport or activity in which the motion is used and a description of how the motion should be correctly done.

Section 2: Joint Motion Analysis
You must analyze the motion at each of the three joints. Your analysis must include the following information for each of the three joints:

Preparation Phase (wind up)
For the preparation phase you must discuss:

1. The motion(s) occurring at the joint using anatomical terminology.
   
2. The muscles that are generating the motion and what they are specifically doing.
   
3. Planes and axes of movement.
   
4. Why the preparatory phase is important for the movement you have selected and how the preparatory phase affects the performance of the skill.
   
5. You must provide description of motion that involves any implement used by the subject.
   

Movement Phase (the skill)
For the movement phase you must discuss:

1. The motion(s) occurring at the joint using anatomical terminology.
   
2. Directions and nature of the forces being generated.
   
3. The muscles that are generating the motion and what they are specifically doing.
   
4. Planes and axes of movement.
   
5. Why the movement phase is important for the movement you have selected and how the movement phase affects the performance of the skill.
   
6. You must provide description of the motion that involves any implement used by the subject.

Follow Through Phase
For the follow through phase you must discuss:

1. The motion(s) occurring at the joint using anatomical terminology.
   
2. Directions and nature of the forces being generated
   
3. The muscles that are generating the motion and what they are specifically doing.
   
4. Planes and axes of movement.
   
5. Why the follow through phase is important for the movement you have selected and how the movement phase affects the performance of the skill.
   
6. You must provide description of motion that involves any implement used by the subject.

You should consider using stick figure drawings that include arrows or other indicators of directions of forces, velocities, etc. to describe phases the motion.

Product for Step 3: The written motion analysis including figures, references, etc.

Percentage of Final Project for Step 3: 75%

Format instructions

1. All written material for Step 3 must be typed in a document.
   
2. Any illustrations or drawings must be in ink and must be labeled and legible. I suggest using a software package such as Microsoft Draw, etc.
   
3. There must be a cover page that includes your name, title of the project, course, date submitted and name of the instructor.
   
4. All references must be cited. A reference list must be included at the end of the document. Proper reference format must be used (APA, MLA, AMA, etc.).
   
5. Students are expected to adhere to the academic integrity policy as found in the student handbook. All information which is not your own should be referenced in accepted format. Contact the instructor beforehand to verify any format questions before the due date. Academic integrity violations (such as plagiarism, copying, submitting another’s work as your own, etc.) will be dealt with severely.