Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2683
Date of Award
10-2023
Degree Name
MS in Mechanical Engineering
Department/Program
Mechanical Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Steve Klisch
Advisor Department
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
Biomechanics research investigating gait and balance of ultimate frisbee players is an unexplored topic. Ultimate requires a wide range of motions that could improve balance and is also a sport prone to frequent injury. This study explores the impact of playing ultimate on gait parameters associated with balance and knee angles associated with joint injury. Gait trials were conducted on 8 ultimate players and 8 control participants between the ages of 18 and 23 to obtain total double support time, stance phase time, single support time, load response time, abduction-adduction (AA) angles, internal-external (IE) rotation angles, and flexion angles of the dominant leg’s knee. Knee angles were obtained through the application of a Triangular Cosserat Point Element (TCPE) analysis for Soft-Tissue Artifact (STA) correction of knee kinematics. The gait parameters and knee angles were compared between ultimate players and control group participants using two-sample t tests. The results indicated that (1) playing ultimate may be used to improve balance, and (2) playing ultimate may reduce the range of IE rotation angles.