This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- Is “My Jump Lab” reliable and valid?
- A scientific analysis of strongman Eddie Hall
- The new technology that replaced line judges at the US Tennis Open
Is “My Jump Lab” reliable and valid?
The My Jump Lab app now incorporates an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to assess vertical jump height. A recent study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of this AI feature within the My Jump Lab app.
The study involved the assessment of over 260 countermovement jumps performed by nearly 90 athletes. Each jump was executed on force platforms and simultaneously measured by the My Jump Lab app. The app’s AI feature autonomously detects the athlete’s jump take-off and landing, estimating jump height by calculating the flight time of the jump.
The results of the study indicated that the My Jump Lab app demonstrated high reliability and strong validity when compared with the force platforms. As a result, the researchers recommend the My Jump Lab app as an accurate, practical, and cost-efficient method for measuring jump height.
If you want to delve deeper into the My Jump Lab app, we suggest looking into the study. We also have a highly relevant podcast episode that is worth a listen: How Will Artificial Intelligence Revolutionise The Sporting World?
If any of our readers are using the My Jump Lab app or other artificial intelligence models in their practice, we’d be thrilled to hear about your experiences! Please feel free to share with us!
A scientific analysis of strongman Eddie Hall
Recently, Eddie Hall, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man and the first person to deadlift 500kg, was the focus of a scientific study. Hall underwent a series of assessments, including MRI scans and an isometric mid-thigh pull test at Loughborough University. Researchers analysed Hall’s data in comparison to elite athletes, regular exercisers, and untrained individuals.
Unsurprisingly, Hall’s quadriceps muscles were found to be twice as large as those of untrained individuals, and his calf muscles were 120% larger. However, the research yielded some intriguing results. Despite the significant size difference in his quadriceps, Hall’s patellar tendon, to which the quadriceps muscles attach, was only 30% larger than that of untrained individuals. This led the researchers to suggest that tendons are less responsive to training compared to muscles.
Surprisingly, in Hall’s body, the “guy rope muscles” which are the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus, showed the most significant development compared to untrained individuals. These muscles, which are responsible for stabilising the pelvis and thigh, were found to be 140% to over 200% larger in Hall. These unexpected findings underscore the limited previous scientific attention given to these muscles and suggest their potentially greater importance in lifting and carrying heavy loads.
This research has gained significant attention online, providing valuable insights into the scientific comparison between one of the strongest individuals in history and the average person. For further details, we recommend exploring the corresponding article.
The new technology that replaced line judges at the US Tennis Open
The recent US Tennis Open distinguished itself by implementing a notable change: the complete absence of line judges, relying instead on a system of over 200 high-speed cameras. NothingButTech, a YouTube channel, provided an insightful analysis of this innovation in a concise video.
These high-speed cameras are strategically positioned to capture the entire trajectory of the ball for each shot, operating at 340 frames per second. Subsequently, the recorded data is swiftly transferred to a software model which reconstructs the trajectory of the ball in 3D space. The accuracy of the ball’s trajectory and its landing position is then determined, ultimately providing a verdict on whether the ball was in or out.
While some may view this shift as another instance of technology replacing human roles in sports, it can be argued that it represents a positive step if it contributes to fairness and minimises human error. Based on my personal experience, a significant problem in youth tennis is the issue of inaccurate ball calls and dishonesty in judging the validity of shots. While it may take time, the idea of introducing this technology at the grassroots level of the sport offers the potential to improve fairness and accuracy at the grassroots level.
We highly recommend checking out the video from NothingButTech and If you’re interested in sports technology, make sure to check out our excellent Library of Sports Technology and Data Online Courses (here)
From us this week:
>> New course: Flow State for Athletes
>> New podcast: Eccentric Training: Don’t Leave Gains On The Table
>> New infographic: Short Vs Long Muscle Length Training To Maximise Hypertrophy
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
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