YOUR HEALTH: 3D motion: Gamechanger in sports performance

CHICAGO, Ill. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – More than 30 million kids across the country play some type of organized sports. But when you play a sport often enough, you know there’s going to be injuries. In fact, more than 3.5 million kids are sidelined by injuries each year. Of course, there’s always the hard hit or broken bone, but a lot of sports injuries can be caused by overuse and wrong form. Now, a technology once reserved for the pros is helping kids take their game to the next level.

Quin Brigham, a high school baseball pitcher, has thrown hundreds, probably thousands of baseballs throughout his life.

“I’ve been playing baseball since I was, forever, three years old,” said Brigham.

And he’s played through some serious pain.

“I started to get pain up here and I didn’t really think anything of it. I just kept playing through and then slowly, it started to go down to my elbow,” said Brigham.

He tried motion capture technology to try to pinpoint the problem. Dave Heidloff, an athletic trainer at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Sports Performance Center, uses 3D models to breakdown the mechanics of Quin’s throw.

“We’re able to see what things look good, where you’re efficient and where you’re inefficient. And those inefficiencies are, really, a big factor in reducing your speed or velocity on your throws, but they’re also, likely, going to overstress tissues and predispose you to injury risk,” said Heidloff.

The technology analyzes 13 different joint measurements in real-time, details timing, measures nine different stresses through the shoulder and elbow. And it can track velocity, strength, and balance.

Trainers know immediately if their interventions are working or not.

“I used to be, like, way down here with my arm, just right here. And now, I’m more here and I’m driving through,” said Brigham.

After tweaking his technique, Brigham is pain-free and now hopes this technology will be a real gamechanger.

“It’s been my dream to play in college, so I’m gonna try to take it as far as I can,” said Brigham.

3D motion capture technology is not just good for baseball players, but anyone who plays sports and has reoccurring pain.

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