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Application of Inertial Sensors to Identify Performance-Relevant Parameters in Olympic Hammer Throw
Stefan Tiedemann1, Thorben Menrad1, Kerstin Witte1
1Department Sports Science, Faculty of Humanities, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany.
Summary
Essential biomechanical parameters for hammer throw performance were identified. Stance times and left hand speed significantly influence throwing distance, alongside acceleration and angular velocity.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Science
- Athletic Performance Analysis
Background:
- Determining key biomechanical factors in hammer throw is challenging due to movement complexity and individual athlete differences.
- Existing scientific literature lacks consensus on critical performance-determining parameters for this athletic event.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify essential biomechanical parameters that determine performance in the hammer throw.
- To conduct comprehensive body analyses on experienced hammer throwers to understand performance determinants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a full-body sensor suit (Xsens Moven suit with 17 inertial measurement units) to collect kinematic data.
- Analyzed 37 literature-based parameters using correlation analyses with throwing distance and principal component analysis (PCA).
Main Results:
- Stance times and left hand speed emerged as highly promising parameters influencing throwing distance.
- Acceleration and angular velocity also demonstrated relevance to performance when compared with throwing distance.
Conclusions:
- Stance times and left hand speed are likely critical for optimizing hammer throw distance.
- Further research focusing on technique and greater variations in throwing distance is needed to refine performance-relevant parameter identification.
