Figure Skating

The Ithaca College biomechanics lab works closely with United States Figure Skating studying the biomechanics of figure skating.  Many of the research projects have been supported by grants from The International Olympic Committee, The Internal Skating Union, The United Stares Olympic Committee, United States Figure Skating, and The Professional Skaters Association. 

Current projects include: studying the take-off mechanics of the quadruple toe-loop, comparing techniques used to complete the triple Lutz double toe-loop as compared to the triple Lutz triple toe-loop, and studying the split triple twist and split double twist.

Another area of interest is injuries in figure skating, specifically studying incidence rate of injuries in figure skaters, determining the number of jumps, performed by skaters in a given day, and measuring the loads acting on the skaters during landing.

 

Landing Strategies

Another focus of research in the lab is landing strategies used by children and athletes under different conditions.

One project involved studying the effects of fatigue on lower extremity mechanics during stop and go tasks. High speed video was taken of athletes performing stop and go skills while forces were measured with force plates. 3D computer models were created of the athletes' cutting leg and joint moments were determined.

Related projects have included studying the effects of a training program on lower extremity mechanics in children in landing and jumping and differences in landing mechanics in male and female high school soccer players.

Putting

Several faculty in the department are interested in biomechanics of golfing. Currently they are studying the effect of putting grip on the putting stroke, more specifically the consistency of the stroke as measured by putter face angle, putter head velocity, and ball impact position.

Student Research

The biomechanics lab is used by students for thesis and independent research projects.

In a recent project, a force plate is being used to measure isometric leg press strength. Software programs were written to measure the forces and calculate maximum force and rate of force development.

Other student projects have involved studying the effects of surface properties on landing technique, studying the impact forces and the effects of a training program on landing mechanics in children, and studying the knee, hip and low back forces and moments during back squats.

Maintained by Deborah King, Ph. D. (dking@ithaca.edu)
Last updated 7/29/08

Website design by Ian Lockwood '07