Stuart A. McErlain-Naylor

• PhD Sports Biomechanics
• Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics at Loughborough University

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2014.924055 This study aimed to investigate the contributions of kinetic and kinematic parameters to inter-individual variation in countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Two-dimensional kinematic data and ground reaction forces during a CMJ were recorded for 18 males of varying jumping experi...

A logarithmic curve fitting methodology for the calculation of badminton racket-shuttlecock impact locations from three-dimensional motion capture data was presented and validated. Median absolute differences between calculated and measured impact locations were 3.6 [IQR: 4.4] and 3.5 [IQR: 3.5] mm mediolaterally and longitudinally on the racket fa...

The purpose of this study was to quantify the magnitude and frequency content of surface-measured accelerations at each major human body segment from foot to head during impact landings. Twelve males performed two single leg drop landings from each of 0.15 m, 0.30 m, and 0.45 m. Triaxial accelerometers (2000 Hz) were positioned over the: first meta...

The identification of optimum technique for maximal effort sporting tasks is one of the greatest challenges within sports biomechanics. A theoretical approach using forward-dynamics simulation allows individual parameters to be systematically perturbed independently of potentially confounding variables. Each study typically follows a four-stage pro...

Organismic, task, and environmental constraints are known to differ between skilled male and female cricket batters during power hitting tasks. Despite these influences, the techniques used in such tasks have only been investigated in male cricket batters. This study compared power hitting kinematics between 15 male and 15 female batters ranging fr...

Although rotary inertial devices (RIDs) have been used in resistance training for many years, there is still limited knowledge of the specific biomechanics that distinguish them from traditional resistance training (TRT) methods. The aim of this study is to compare the serial data of force, velocity, and displacement over time in half-squats perfor...

Cricket fast bowling training and research are often conducted on artificial turf, while matches are played on natural grass. It is unknown if technique differs between the different surfaces; therefore, the aim of this study was to explore if fast bowling technique differed between surfaces. Shoe slip distance and kinematic and temporal parameters...

Aims Flywheel resistance training has become more integrated within resistance training programs in a variety of sports due to the neuromuscular, strength, and task-specific enhancements reported with this training. This paper aimed to present the consensus reached by internationally recognized experts during a meeting on current definitions and gu...

Athlete load monitoring using upper back-mounted Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) player tracking is common within many team sports. However, accelerometer-based load monitoring may provide information that cannot be achieved with GNSS alone. This review focuses on the accelerometer-based metrics quantifying the accumulation of acceleratio...

A cricket wicketkeeper is a player on the fielding team positioned behind the stumps. They adopt a crouching position upon ball delivery from the bowler to take catches, execute stumpings, and limit extra runs due to byes. Wicketkeepers are advised to conduct a combination of technical and strength and conditioning training to support the dynamic a...

This is a preprint of a chapter forthcoming in the following edited textbook: Eimear Dolan & James Steele (Eds). Research Methods in Sport and Exercise Science: An Open Access Primer. Society for Transparency, Openness and Replication in Kinesiology. INTRODUCTION: If you have followed and implemented all steps described throughout this book, you...

High amplitudes of shock during running have been thought to be associated with an increased injury risk. This study aimed to quantify the association between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) quantified body composition, and shock attenuation across the time and frequency domains. Twenty-four active adults participated. A DEXA scan was perfo...

E-textiles have emerged as a fast-growing area in wearable technology for sports and fitness due to the soft and comfortable nature of textile materials and the capability for smart functionality to be integrated into familiar sports clothing. This review paper presents the roles of wearable technologies in sport and fitness in monitoring movement...

Monitoring training load is essential for optimizing the performance of athletes, allowing practitioners to assess training programs, monitor athlete progress, and minimize the risk of injury and overtraining. However, there is no universal method for training load monitoring, and the adoption of wearable global positioning system (GPS) and acceler...

Background Flywheel resistance training has become more integrated within resistance training programs in a variety of sports due to the neuromuscular, strength, and task-specific enhancements reported with this training. Objective This paper aimed to present the consensus reached by internationally recognized experts during a meeting on current d...

All Correspondence: K.P.Manawadu@lboro.ac.uk Aim/Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the main differences in ball release angle between three common pitch length deliveries; yorker, bouncer, stock and to find out which technique parameters explains these differences. METHODS: Data were collected from twenty-one county level fast bowlers...

Purpose : This preregistered trial investigated how 6 weeks of unilateral flywheel leg-curl and hip-extension training impact isokinetic, isometric, and flywheel strength and power outcomes. Methods : The study involved 11 male university athletes (age 22 [2] y; body mass 77.2 [11.3] kg; height 1.74 [0.09] m) with one leg randomly allocated to flyw...

Background Despite differences between left- and right-handed athletes in other sports, minimal evidence exists regarding biomechanical similarities and differences between left- and right-handed cricket fast bowlers performing an equivalent task. Objectives This study aimed to compare the kinematics between left and right-handed fast bowlers perf...

Using an expert consensus-based approach, a netball video analysis consensus (NVAC) group of researchers and practitioners was formed to develop a video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions of physical, technical and contextual aspects for netball research. The framework aims to improve the consistency of language used within netball i...

Background: It remains unknown if flywheel-assisted squats can be reliably utilized to increase power outputs and if such outputs are related. Objectives: To compare assisted and unassisted flywheel squat peak power outputs, determine their reliability, and analyze the relationship of the delta difference between peak power outputs during the sq...

The main aim of cricket fielding is to minimize runs scored by the opposing batting team. This is achieved through (a) collecting a batted ball and returning it to the wicket-keeper to prevent runs from being scored, (b) dismissing a batter by catching a batted ball, (c) running a batter out by throwing the ball to strike the stumps, or 4) preventi...

This study examined 503 power-hitting strokes that resulted in the maximum of 6-runs being scored in international men’s one-day and T20 cricket. Chi-Squared analyses were conducted to determine if performance and situational variables were associated with the distribution (direction) of aerial power-hitting strokes. Results revealed that bowling l...

The effect of load on time-series data has yet to be investigated during weightlifting derivatives. This study compared the effect of load on the force-time and velocity-time curves during the countermovement shrug (CMS). Twenty-nine males performed the CMS at relative loads of 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 140% one repetition maximum (1RM) power...

The purpose of this study was to determine if elite female cricket batters' body or bat kinematics differed when facing fast or spin bowling in a power-hitting task. Six elite female cricket batters completed a straight drive power hitting task against both fast and spin bowling, captured by a 3D motion capture system. Select kinematic variables we...

Accurate ball pitch length in cricket fast bowling is potentially achieved from a redundant combination of four ball release parameters. Yet, it is unknown how parameter co-variations affect pitch accuracy. This study investigates whether pitch length variance is determined by coordinated ball release parameter co-variability. Twelve fast bowlers p...

The aim of this research was to quantify the magnitude and timing of surface measured accelerations during the fast-bowling action. Eleven males performed 6 maximum velocity deliveries with accelerometers positioned over: both ankles; knees; hips; L5; L1; and the C7 vertebrae. Accelerometer signals exhibited decreased peak and increased time to pea...

This study investigated the effect of flywheel moment of inertia (0.029, 0.061, and 0.089 kg·m²) on concentric and eccentric peak power and eccentric:concentric peak power ratio during unilateral flywheel leg curl and hip extension exercises. Moreover, the inter-session reliability of peak power was analyzed during both exercises. Twenty amateur ma...

Jump take‐off momentum has previously been proposed as an alternative test to predict sprint momentum. This study used a data simulation to replicate and systematically investigate relationships reported in previous studies between body mass, vertical jump performance, and sprint performance. Results were averaged for 1000 simulated data sets in ea...

Growing evidence supports use of eccentric methods for strength development and injury prevention within elite soccer, yet uncertainty remains regarding practitioners’ application of flywheel (isoinertial) methods. The aims of this study were to investigate how the flywheel training literature is perceived and applied by elite soccer practitioners,...

10 min presentation video: https://youtu.be/BZQ8ABKaiyQ A modified vector coding technique was used to quantify coordination and control during countermovement jumps by 16 males. Previously reported group-level coordination patterns were confirmed, although substantial inter-individual variation existed. Patterns of thigh-shank coordination and c...

The aim of this study was to determine the inter-unit reliability of IMU Step biomechanical load monitoring metrics using IMeasureU Blue Trident inertial measurement units in tasks common to running-based team sports. Knowledge of variability between units is required before researchers and practitioners can make informed decisions on “true” differ...

(1) Background: The aim of the study was to determine the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) of vertical and horizontal ground reaction force parameters during jumps and change of direction following flywheel squat exercise using two different flywheel inertias. (2) Methods: Eleven male athletes performed a countermovement jump (CMJ), s...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying flywheel inertia on velocity and power during flywheel squats. Fifteen healthy physically active males performed 6 maximal effort flywheel half-squats at each of 0.029, 0.061, 0.089, and 0.121 kg·m2, with velocity recorded via 3D motion capture and power recorded via inbuilt transducer. P...

RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. What are the movement patterns and physiological demands of match day performance for high-performance netball umpires? 2. Is there variance in the movement patterns and physiological demands between higher and lower ranked umpires?

The aim of this study was to investigate student experiences of publishing undergraduate research in biomechanics. A total of 29 former students with experience of publishing peer-reviewed undergraduate biomechanics research completed an online survey regarding their perceived benefits, level of involvement, and experiences in aspects of the resear...

The present study investigated the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) of isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings torque after flywheel (FW)-squat vs. FW-deadlift in comparison to a control condition. Fifteen male athletes were enrolled in this randomised, crossover study. Each protocol consisted of 3 sets of 6 repetitions, with an inertial...

The purpose of this study was to identify kinematic determinants of shuttlecock speed in the badminton jump smash. Three-dimensional kinematic (400 Hz) data were collected for 18 experienced male badminton players using an 18 camera Vicon Motion Analysis System. Each participant performed 12 jump smashes. The trial with the fastest shuttlecock spee...

Speed and accuracy of the badminton smash are critical components for successful performance. Fifty-two participants data were collected using a Vicon 3D Motion capture system (400 Hz) at the BWF Glasgow World Championships (2017). The purpose of this study was to identify and compare spatial speed-accuracy trade-off (SATO) relationships amongst in...

The aim of this study was to investigate student experiences of publishing undergraduate research in biomechanics. Twenty-nine people with experience of publishing peer-reviewed undergraduate biomechanics research completed an online survey regarding their perceived benefits and level of involvement in aspects of the research process. On average, s...

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of delivery method on upper-body kinematics in cricketers playing a front foot drive and a back foot pull shot. Fourteen male cricketers were played both shots against a bowler, bowling machine, and Sidearm TM ball thrower. The availability of pre-release visual cues appears to affect upper-body kin...

10 min conference presentation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjivOkeGeiw Recent work has challenged the practice of extracting and analysing discrete summary metrics from continuous biomechanical data. This paper presents a practical comparison of candidate data analysis techniques including frequentist and Bayesian discrete analysis, freq...

Editorial - free online access at https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2020.1782555

To compare demands of national netball umpires between levels of competition, 22 Netball New Zealand high-performance umpires participated in this investigation. These included from highest to lowest standard: 9 × semi-professional ANZ Championships (ANZC); 6 × National A Squad (NZA); and 7 × National Development Squad (DEV). Physical (global posit...

Using game-level data, this study examines what impact the mid-season winter break in football fixtures has on technical performance across European football leagues. 38 technical measures pertaining to the actions of passing and shooting are assessed for 3,494 team match observations from the German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, French Ligue 1 and...

Featured Application The findings suggest that players and/or coaches should focus on proximal segment movements: specifically, producing greater pelvis-thorax separation during the retraction phase and greater shoulder internal rotation at shuttle contact to increase shuttlecock speed. Abstract The forehand jump smash is an essential attacking st...

This review has outlined the existing literature relating to activity profiles in elite netball umpires. In particular, the physical (distance travelled), physiological (heart rate), and technical (movement classifications) characteristics have been described. The limited available literature report that on average elite netball umpires travel appr...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02640414.2019.1671688?tab=permissions&scroll=top The utility of flywheel devices and eccentric overload protocols for inducing post-activation potentiation (PAP) is only recently beginning to be understood. The aim of the study was to determine PAP effects on vertical and horizontal ground reaction force...

Purpose: To investigate the postactivation potentiation (PAP) effects of different eccentric overload (EOL) exercise volumes on countermovement-jump (CMJ) and standing-long-jump (LJ) performance. Methods: In total, 13 male university soccer players participated in a crossover design study following a familiarization period. Control (no PAP) CMJ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects following eccentric overload (EOL) and traditional weightlifting (TW) exercise on standing long jump (SLJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and 5 m sprint acceleration performance. Ten male athletes were involved in a randomized, crossover study. The subjects performed...

Purpose: To summarize the evidence on postactivation potentiation (PAP) protocols using flywheel eccentric overload (EOL) exercises. Methods: Studies were searched using the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Institute for Scientific Information Web of Knowledge. Results: In total, 7 eligible studies were identified based on the followin...

https://cricketcongress2019.lboro.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Final-Book.pdf Background: Recent research has investigated the relationships between technique and bat speed during a cricket range hitting task in 20 male batsmen ranging from club to international standard 1. The separation between the pelvis and thorax segments in the transver...

Three-dimensional kinematic data of racket and shuttlecock were recorded for 297 jump smashes performed by fourteen badminton players (8 male; 6 female) at the 2016 All England Championships and the 2017 World Championships. The racket angle and racket head speed at impact, as well as impact location of the shuttlecock on the racket face, were dete...

This study aimed to evaluate the postactivation potentiation (PAP) effects of an eccentric overload (EOL) exercise on vertical and horizontal jumps and change of direction (COD) performance. Twelve healthy physically active male subjects were involved in a crossover study. The subjects performed 3 sets of 6 repetitions of EOL half squats for maxima...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167945718303026 The ability of a batsman to clear the boundary is a major contributor to success in modern cricket. The aim of this study was to identify technique parameters characterising those batsmen able to generate greater bat speeds, ball launch speeds, and carry distances during a range...

Loughborough University, Summer Showcase-conference poster presentation. Smash Speed, Impact Location, Badminton World Federation, Hawkeye, Glasgow World Championships

https://shapeamerica.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2017.1389484#.XQ1jAe7TWyU Three-dimensional kinematic data of bat and ball were recorded for 239 individual shots performed by twenty batsmen ranging from club to international standard. The impact location of the ball on the bat face was determined and assessed against the resultant i...

In high impact human activities, much of the impact shock wave is dissipated through internal body structures, preventing excessive accelerations from reaching vital organs. Mechanisms responsible for this attenuation, including lower limb joint compression and spinal compression have been neglected in existing whole-body simulation models. Acceler...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1754337117723275 This study aimed to develop a methodology for accurate determination of the impact location of a cricket ball on the bat face, as well as the identification of bat–ball contact timing and post-impact instantaneous ball velocity in a whole-body kinematic data collection environment. Thr...

Impact forces of up to 13 times bodyweight have been observed in dynamic jumping activities such as the triple jump [1]. It has long been accepted that the human skeletal system is capable of damping such impact shock waves and avoiding direct transmission of impact forces to internal structures. The force attenuating mechanisms responsible, includ...

The aim of this study was to identify the technique parameters characterising batsmen who generate large carry distances, ball launch speeds, and bat speeds during a range hitting task in cricket. Kinematic data were collected for 20 batsmen, and a series of ball launch, impact, and technique parameters were calculated for each trial. A regression...

The badminton shuttlecock has a lower ballistic coefficient, a measure of ability to overcome air resistance, and greater deceleration during flight than any other airborne sporting implement (Nakagawa, Hasegawa, Murakami, & Obayashi, 2012). Indeed, initial shuttlecock velocities of 67 m·s-1 have been reported to decelerate in 0.6 s to close to the...