Search

This study introduces an innovative integration of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) with biomechanical principles to examine the golf swing dynamics from an ecological perspective. Traditionally, LMA focuses on the qualitative aspects of movement, often isolated from external influences. This research bridges that gap by investigating how golfers manage and adapt to the inertial forces of the club throughout the swing. Using motion tracking sensors and screw theory, we analyzed the spatial movement pattern in the Kinesphere (mapped as an icosahedron) and related it to force dynamics in the Effort Cube through the inertia tensor. The results showed significant differences between skilled and novice golfers in terms of how efficiently they align their movements with the club's inertia. Skilled golfers demonstrated smoother Instantaneous Screw Axes (ISAs) and better synchronization with inertia forces, while novice golfers exhibited more abrupt deviations. These findings suggest that integrating qualitative movement descriptors with biomechanical models provides deeper insights into swing efficiency, performance improvement, and injury prevention. This combined framework offers a novel method to enhance both qualitative and quantitative analysis of golf swings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Interconnected hybrid (ICH) mechanisms are those not entirely parallel nor serial. • Introduce visualization-based analysis and synthesis methods for ICH systems. • Analysis methods can determine the mobility, load paths, and transmissions. • Synthesis method can create ICH systems with any set of desired transmissions. • Methods facilitate the creation of emerging mechanism classes, like metamaterials. We introduce visualization-based methods to analyze and synthesize interconnected hybrid (ICH) systems. These systems consist of joints that are not strictly parallel nor serial to one another. We include two types of analysis methods – one that uses joint freedom spaces and another that uses joint constraint spaces. These methods leverage intuition to determine the mobility, under-constraint, over-constraint, transmission, and load paths of any mechanism. The analysis methods are an interpretation of previously established numerical approaches for ICH systems. To adapt the complexities of screw theory and matrix algebra, this work builds off the geometries and systematic rules of the Freedom and Constraint Topologies (FACT) design approach. The synthesis approach is a reversal of the freedom-based analysis method. This synthesis approach takes a designer from any set of desired transmissions to an ICH system capable of achieving them. Both the analysis and synthesis approaches are accompanied by an example compliant mechanism to illustrate their utility and limitations. These methods seek to facilitate the design of emerging mechanism classes, such as metamaterials, and extend the FACT design approach to include ICH systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]