Analysis of Runner Biomechanics

1
Analysis of Runner Biomechanics

• Using Edge Detection and Image Processing
  Techniques to Determine Pronation Levels
• Asa Kusuma

2
The Problem Determining Pronation

• Pronation Ankle rolling inward on impact
• Over-pronation major cause of running injuries
• Hard to determine with the eye, subtle

3
Pronation and Runners

• Every runner should pronate a moderate amount
• Too much pronation
• Strains achilies tendon
• Puts pressure on Tibia
• Strains inner knee
• Not enough pronation
• Supination
• Puts pressure on Fibula
• Strains IT Band

Overpronation
Supination
4
The Setup
2nd Quarter
5
How the Setup Works

• Camera
• Takes 20 Frames per second
• Produces 2 relevant images
• Before impact
• At impact
• Light
• Ensures universal lighting
• Horizontal Tape
• Keeps runner in the same position relative to the
  camera
• White Background
• Helps with edge detection

6
Method Edge Shift

• Get 2 Images, before and after impact
• Edge Detect
• Isolate the inner edge of foot/leg
• Find average x coordinate of edge
• Equalize image edges
• Compare x coordinates of edges

7
Eliminating Noise

• Upper portion of edge detection usually accurate
• Run normal edge detection, store edge pixels
• From top of edge, work down
• Only include edge pixels which have similar
  x-coordinates
• Allow for more variance in x-coordinate for
  larger differences in y-coordinate

8
Standardize images

• Standard

• Not standard

9
Implementation of a GUI

• Graphical User Interface library
• EasyGUI
• Allows event based GUI elements
• Runs within the python script
• Still must start program in terminal

10
Select Images
11
Select Which Leg
12
Select Pronation
13
Display Results
14
What Edges Look Like
Over-Pronator
Neutral
Supinator
15
Determining Relative Factors

• Camera
• Whats the resolution of the camera?
• Whats the FPS of the image capture
• After testing, doesnt matter
• Shift Method
• How much shifting constitutes over-pronation?
• Testing on multiple subjects
• 1-5 pixel shift, supinator
• 6-10 pixel shift, neutral
• 11 pixel shift, over-pronator