In sports such as tennis and golf, knowledge of wrist kinematics can be beneficial for improving performance or reducing the risk of injury. Numerous studies have attempted to capture wrist kinematics but no common method for marker locations or segment definitions has emerged, making comparisons between studies difficult. In additon, measures of wrist axial rotation have either been too large with respect to the physiological limits of the wrist joint, or neglected and not reported at all.

Aim

The aim of the project was to investigate the effect of modifying the wrist tracking marker set and Cardan sequence on 3D wrist kinematics.

Approach

  • Wrist kinematics compared for a range of different marker set solutions applied to golfers using an optoelectronic motion capture system (Vicon).
  • Six participants performed free movements of flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation and forearm supination/pronation, with a further sixteen participants performing golf drives.
  • Wrist kinematics calculated using the six different Cardan sequences (XYZ, XZY, YXZ, YZX, ZXY, ZYX)

Key Findings

  • Modifying the tracking marker set and/or Cardan sequence can have a significant effect on the wrist angles generated about all three anatomical axes
  • Marker sets which dynamically track the forearm using multiple proximally located markers, appear to produce large values of axial rotation which is not anatomically appropriate
  • A solution of two distal and one proximal forearm tracking marker appears to best represent the rotation of the forearm and, consequently, wrist joint; however, the location of the proximal forearm marker can have a large influence on both the tracking ability of the marker set and the resulting kinematics generated
  • A newly developed marker set, which uses a virtual marker located at the elbow joint centre as the proximal forearm tracking marker demonstrated the best tracking ability and was considered to generate the most meaningful wrist kinematics, thus, is recommended for use in future research
  • When using this newly developed marker set, either the XYZ or XZY Cardan sequence is recommended to quantify wrist kinematics during the golf swing

Publications

Researchers

Josh Turner

Turner, J. (2021). The effect of golf club inertia on the golfer–club interaction. PhD Thesis.

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