The assessment for this module is a research-informed, written laboratory report. Students will design and investigate a focused research question, drawing on current biomechanical literature to justify their aims and methodological choices. Students will collect empirical data using multiple measurement systems to capture complementary aspects of human movement. Students must process and interpret these datasets, compare outcomes across systems, and critically evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and limitations of each method. The lab report should integrate their empirical findings with existing research, highlighting points of agreement or discrepancy, and provide a critical discussion of what the results mean for understanding the mechanical demands of movement in sport, exercise, and strength and conditioning contexts. This includes evaluating performance implications, technique considerations, and potential injury-risk factors using evidence-based reasoning.

This module builds on students’ foundational knowledge of functional anatomy and biomechanics by deepening their understanding of how human movement is measured, analysed, and applied within sport, exercise, rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning contexts.

- Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative biomechanical techniques and explore how these methods inform research, coaching instruction, motor skill teaching, and evidence-based exercise prescription.

- Practical laboratory and field-based sessions will introduce students to a range of data acquisition systems, with emphasis on how combining multiple systems enhances the accuracy, richness, and interpretability of biomechanical data. These technologies will be applied to assess walking and running gait, strength and conditioning movements, sport-specific skills, and clinical functional tasks.

- Students will learn how to process and integrate outcome measures from different measurement systems to characterise movement strategies, quantify mechanical demands, and identify factors associated with performance enhancement and injury risk.

- Students will also be taught the principles of producing clear and professional biomechanical reports, developing skills in presenting, interpreting, and communicating findings that translate directly to coaching, rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning decision-making.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of biomechanical and kinesiological principles.

Learning Outcome: Knowledge & Understanding

2. Evaluate quantitative and qualitative techniques used in human movement analysis, including the limitations and challenges associated with data acquisition and collection.

Learning Outcome: Research Skills

3. Apply biomechanical knowledge to evaluate performance implications, technique considerations, and potential injury-risk factors, using evidence-based reasoning.

Learning Outcome: Application & Problem solving

Teaching and learning will combine lectures and practical laboratory sessions to develop students’ theoretical understanding and practical competency in biomechanics. Lectures will introduce key biomechanical and kinesiological principles through research-informed content, ensuring students engage with current evidence, contemporary methods, and real-world applications. Practical laboratory sessions will focus on developing technical proficiency with laboratory and field-based measurement systems, enabling students to confidently set up equipment, collect data, and troubleshoot issues. Students will design and conduct small-scale studies, strengthening their research skills, analytical abilities, and report-writing competence. Practical laboratory sessions will also support discussion, problem-solving, and interpretation of data using sport, exercise, strength and conditioning, and clinical case studies. Independent learning will further consolidate methodological understanding and support assessment preparation.

- Access to an appropriate PC, with accompanying software including Office 365 (MS Teams, One-Drive, Word, PowerPoint et al.), Adobe, and JAMOVI.

- Access to appropriate reading materials, which can be accesses through the University of Staffordshire library resource page for sport and Exercise.

Roupa, I., da Silva, M. R., Marques, F., Gonçalves, S. B., Flores, P., & da Silva, M. T. (2022). On the modeling of biomechanical systems for human movement analysis: a narrative review.¿Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering,¿29(7), 4915-4958.

Hamill, J. (2015) Biomechanical basis of human movement. 4th ed. (International edition). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Payton, C.J., & Burden, A. (Eds.). (2017). Biomechanical Evaluation of Movement in Sport and Exercise: The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Guide (2nd ed.). Routledge.

This module develops your understanding of how the body moves and how we measure it in real sport and exercise settings. You will learn to use industry-standard biomechanical tools, both laboratory and field-based systems, to analyse walking, running, strength and conditioning movements, and sport skills. By combining multiple measurement systems, you’ll gain deeper insight into performance, injury risk, and technique. You’ll also learn how to interpret data, write clear biomechanical reports, and apply findings to coaching, teaching motor skills, rehabilitation, and exercise prescription. This will prepare you for careers in sport and exercise, and strength and conditioning.