Video Analysis at Omaha Sports Physical Therapy
To continue our pursuit of getting athletes back to the field as quickly as possible, we are now offering video movement analysis using the same technology NBC used when covering the past two Olympics (Winter 2002 in Salt Lake City; Summer 2004 in Athens).

Video analysis has long been used for evaluation of gait deviations in neruologic patients. At OSPT, we are making use of recent developments in equipment and software to utilize video analysis in the assessment of, among other things, running, jumping, and throwing technique.

For example, the intricate biomechanics occurring during running are difficult to pick out with the naked eye. Using computerized digital images of the runner, we can slow the movement and view it from many different angles. Frame by frame analysis of arm movement, trunk rotation, hip and leg alignment, foot placement, and rearfoot motion will enable us to detect even minor gait deviations. Allowing you to see exactly what your body is doing will assist with understanding of and subsequent modification of your running style. Video analysis also gives us the opportunity to see exactly how your foot and ankle respond to different types of footwear, in order to recommend a shoe that best fits each individual runner.

In addition to managing running-related injuries, our Video Analysis Program has been an invaluable tool in the treatment of post-surgical patients and overhead athletes—especially throwers and volleyball players.

Dartfish Technology
To accomplish this, we use the award winning software designed by Dartfish, a company that specializes in producing digital images to bridge the gap between our observation and your perception.

Dartfish's unique SimulCam feature blends two performances, one on top of the other, into a single image. We can further analyze head, feet, and body placement of different athletes during the same movement.
Another feature called StroMotion captures sequential images (see below), allowing us to study a critical turn frame-by-frame.

With Dartfish, we can also play two images simultaneously to see how your movements have changed over time. “We can tell an athlete that her knee angle was too severe (i.e., excessive valgus), but the athlete may not understand what that means without seeing it," says David Potach, "if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million."

Dartfish has been endorsed by 10 international governing bodies including those for track and field, volleyball, gymnastics, and swimming. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Dartfish software was used to help train 45 Olympic medalists from the U.S. and five European countries. Dartfish was also in Athens to prepare images for several television networks, including NBC in the US.

Click Here for a brief example of our video analysis (this may take awhile to download).