What is Biomechanics?
Biomechanics is the study of movement, combining principles from physics, engineering, and human physiology to analyse motion, forces, and mechanical interactions within biological systems. It plays a crucial role in sports science, rehabilitation, and clinical research, helping practitioners understand human performance, prevent injuries, and enhance recovery processes. In a biomechanics lab, researchers and professionals use advanced technology to measure, analyse, and interpret movement patterns. These insights support evidence-based decisions in fields like sports performance, physiotherapy, orthopaedics, and ergonomics. To build an effective biomechanics lab, having the right equipment is essential.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Biomechanics Lab
Building a biomechanics lab requires careful planning and investment in the right equipment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up an efficient and effective lab:
Step 1: Define Your Research or Clinical Objectives
Before selecting equipment, determine the primary purpose of your biomechanics lab. Are you focusing on sports performance, rehabilitation, gait analysis, or clinical diagnostics? Defining your goals will help guide your equipment choices and lab layout.
Step 2: Choose the Right Location
Select a space with enough room for movement analysis, equipment installation, and future expansion. Ensure the facility has appropriate flooring, ventilation, and electrical outlets to accommodate your setup.
Step 3: Invest in High-Quality Equipment
Choosing reliable and accurate biomechanics equipment is crucial. HaB Direct offers industry-leading products to help you build your Biomechanics Lab. See below for our recommended Biomechanical lab equipment.
Step 4: Integrate Motion Capture and Data Analysis Systems
To ensure precise data collection, consider integrating motion capture systems, force plates, and pressure sensors with analytical software. This will help researchers and clinicians interpret results effectively.
Step 5: Ensure Proper Installation and Calibration
Proper installation and calibration are critical for obtaining accurate measurements. HaB Direct offers professional installation services, ensuring seamless integration of your equipment and optimal performance from day one.
Step 6: Train Staff and Researchers
Having well-trained personnel is essential for running a biomechanics lab effectively. Ensure your team understands how to operate and maintain the equipment, collect data, and analyse results correctly.
Step 7: Implement a Maintenance and Servicing Plan
Regular maintenance and servicing will keep your equipment in peak condition and prevent downtime. HaB Direct provides comprehensive after-sales support, including servicing and calibration, to help you maintain accuracy and reliability in your lab.
Essential Biomechanics Products from HaB Direct
At HaB Direct, we supply industry-leading biomechanics products designed to facilitate precise and reliable movement analysis. Here are some key products that can help you build your ideal biomechanics lab:
1. Noraxon EMG & IMU Systems
Noraxon Ultium Wireless Surface EMG
Noraxon’s Ultium Wireless Surface EMG system provides an advanced, high-fidelity method for measuring muscle activation during movement. The system uses smart electrodes and sensors to capture detailed neuromuscular data, enabling researchers and clinicians to analyse muscle function in real-time.
With its fully wireless design, it ensures freedom of movement for subjects in dynamic activities such as running, jumping, or rehabilitation exercises. The system seamlessly integrates with other biomechanics tools, allowing a comprehensive analysis of muscular activity alongside motion capture, force plate, and gait analysis data.
Noraxon Ultium Wireless Surface EMG
The Noraxon Ultium Wireless Surface EMG is a research-grade Wireless EMG system equipped with high sampling rate & resolution, low baseline noise, versatile SmartLead options, and powerful wireless communication.
Noraxon Ultium Motion 3D Motion Capture IMU System
The Noraxon Ultium Motion IMU system is a highly advanced motion capture solution. It uses inertial measurement units (IMUs) to track human movement in 3D. Unlike optical systems that require multiple cameras and controlled lab settings, this wireless system allows for motion capture in real-world environments, including outdoor sports fields and rehabilitation centres. It provides high-fidelity motion tracking with real-time data collection, making it ideal for applications in gait analysis, injury prevention, performance optimisation, and clinical rehabilitation. The IMU sensors are strategically stuck on key body segments to analyse joint angles, posture, and movement patterns, offering flexibility and accuracy in biomechanics research.
Noraxon Ultium Motion 3D Motion Capture/IMU System
The Noraxon Ulltium Motion 3D Capture System uses an array of inertial measurement units (IMUs) to measure anatomical joint angles, orientation angles, and linear acceleration in natural and lab-based environments.
Both the EMG and IMU systems can integrate with MR4 software to seamlessly collect and combine a variety of data in Noraxon’s all-in-one software platform. Data is recorded and applied to customisable reports. The reports allow you to compare reports of multiple records to evaluate the differences between measurements and establish target values.
2. Bertec Force Plates
Bertec Fixed Force Plates
Fixed Force Plates from Bertec provide industry-leading accuracy and reliability for biomechanical analysis in research, clinical settings, and sports science. These fixed force plates ensure consistent and repeatable data collection. Offering up to 10,000 Hz sampling frequency for high-resolution kinetic data, they measure ground reaction forces, moments, and the centre of pressure, allowing precise gait, balance, and performance assessments. Bertec’s fixed force plates integrate seamlessly with motion capture systems and are widely used in neuromechanical research, rehabilitation, and high-performance sports applications. Their robust design ensures durability and minimal drift over time, making them an essential tool for biomechanics labs requiring long-term precision.
Bertec Fixed Force Plates
Bertec fixed force plates are designed for gait, balance, and performance analyses. Their patented strain gauge technology, innovative transducer designs, and quality manufacturing help you capture the highly accurate data needed for your research.
The fixed force plates are available in a range of sizes and can be combined to form the Bertec Fixed Walkway Solution.
Bertec Portable Force Plates
Bertec also offers Portable Force Plates, which provide the same high level of accuracy but with the flexibility for use in various environments. These lightweight plates are ideal for field-based assessments, temporary lab setups, and mobile testing applications where fixed plates are not feasible. They maintain excellent measurement fidelity and integrate seamlessly with other biomechanics technologies.
Bertec force plates can also integrate with Noraxon’s MR4 software, synchronising force data with motion tracking for a comprehensive analysis and report of human movement.
Bertec Portable Force Plates
Bertec portable force plates are designed for gait, balance, and performance analyses. Their patented strain gauge technology, innovative transducer designs, and quality manufacturing help you capture the highly accurate data needed for your research.
Additionally, Bertec has recently released Kinamoto software. Kinamoto is a breakthrough solution from Bertec designed to enhance VR-based gait studies. Researchers can build customised Unity® environments that integrate with a head-mounted display and the Fully Instrumented Treadmill v5 (FIT5). This allows for precise, repeatable experimental conditions tailored to a range of motion-related studies. Kinamoto seamlessly integrates with the Bertec Protocol Builder, ensuring a streamlined and efficient research process.
3. h/p/cosmos gaitway 3D Instrumented Treadmill Ergometer
The h/p/cosmos gaitway 3D (a joint design by h/p/cosmos and Arsalis) is a high-precision instrumented treadmill with integrated zebris FDM. It is designed for advanced gait and motion analysis. With integrated force measurement technology, it enables precise tracking of ground reaction forces in three different directions (Fz, Fy, Fx), centre of pressure (Opx, Opy), Moments (Mx, My), Frictional Torque (Tz), and gait parameters.
This treadmill is used in rehabilitation, clinical diagnostics, and performance enhancement, providing detailed kinematic and kinetic data. It is available in different running deck sizes like 150/50, 170/65 and 190/65cm but does not have a split belt.
h/p/cosmos gaitway 3D Instrumented Treadmill Ergometer
The new gaitway 3D is a joint design by h/p/cosmos and Arsalis. It measures the ground reaction forces and torques in three directions and comes in three different sizes: each size is optimized for a range of speeds.
The gaitway 3D offers a rigid construction to record optimal quality signals. The functionalities include a patient weighing scale, a recording of the ground reaction forces at rates up to 10 kHz, left and right force measurement for the vertical force during walking and an extensive list of biomechanical parameters of normal and pathological gaits.
When integrated with Noraxon IMU or EMG and MR4 software, the system can simultaneously capture gait forces, muscle activity, and movement kinematics, delivering a complete biomechanical evaluation.
4. zebris Biomechanics Systems
zebris provides cutting-edge pressure and movement measurement systems for biomechanics research and clinical diagnostics. Their range includes instrumented walkways and pressure plates equipped with high-resolution pressure sensors. These systems offer real-time feedback on gait patterns, helping clinicians and researchers assess walking dynamics, postural stability, and pressure distribution for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Zebris systems integrate h/p/cosmos treadmills (including the 3D gaitway) to produce a treadmill that provides force and pressure data.
The Zebris EMG Bluetooth Muscle Activity Recording System provides a wireless and flexible solution for monitoring muscle activity in both clinical and research settings. It allows for seamless synchronisation with motion analysis tools, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of neuromuscular function. Furthermore, the Zebris Balori Systematic E-Coordination Training system is designed for balance and coordination training, making it particularly useful in rehabilitation environments.
When used alongside MR4 software, Zebris systems contribute to a deeper understanding of coordination and neuromuscular control in various movement assessments.
5. Bertec Immersive Lab with FIT Gen 5 Treadmill
The Bertec Immersive Lab combines virtual reality (VR) technology with Bertec’s FIT Gen 5 treadmill to create an advanced training and research environment. This system allows users to engage in realistic movement scenarios while capturing precise biomechanical data. It is particularly beneficial for neuromuscular rehabilitation, cognitive-motor integration studies, and sports training applications, providing an immersive experience that enhances performance assessment in your Biomechanics lab.
The Bertec FIT Gen 5 Treadmill is an advanced force-instrumented treadmill that provides highly accurate biomechanical data for gait, balance, and movement analysis. This treadmill features integrated force plates that measure ground reaction forces, helping researchers and clinicians analyse movement dynamics in real-time. It is particularly beneficial for rehabilitation, sports performance assessment, and clinical diagnostics. The treadmill’s robust design allows for seamless integration with motion capture and other analysis systems.
When paired with Noraxon MR4, this system provides real-time movement data synchronised with muscle activity and force measurements, creating a complete motion analysis system for interactive biomechanics studies.
Bertec Treadmill FIT Gen 5
The Bertec Fully Instrumented, split-running belt (dual belt) Treadmill v5 (FIT5) allows gait researchers to reduce laboratory space requirements and remove the limitations inherent in a traditional force plate walkway. The unique design features result in superior dynamic characteristics and a high natural frequency making it the preferred research-grade fully instrumented treadmill. The Bertec treadmill enables walking and running research with speeds up to 11.5 m/s and six-component force data output at 1,000 Hz.
Bertec Immersive Lab with FIT Gen 5 Treadmill
Bertec Immersive Labs is an integrated research system for biomechanical analysis. It combines a force-instrumented split-running belt (dual belt) treadmill, a 3D motion capture system, and a virtual reality (VR) dome.
To be paired with the Bertec Treadmill Fit Gen 5.
A Fully Integrated Biomechanics Ecosystem
All of these biomechanics products are designed to work together, creating a fully integrated lab environment. Whether combining Noraxon EMG with Bertec force plates for neuromuscular assessments, integrating h/p/cosmos treadmills with Zebris pressure analysis, or using MR4 software to synchronise data across multiple systems, these technologies provide a seamless and comprehensive solution for motion analysis, rehabilitation, and performance optimisation.
Installation and Servicing with HaB Direct
At HaB Direct, we don’t just supply biomechanics equipment, we ensure it operates at peak performance. Our expert team offers professional and bespoke installation services for all our products, ensuring seamless integration into your lab. Additionally, we provide ongoing servicing and maintenance to keep your equipment in optimal condition, reducing downtime and ensuring accuracy in data collection. Our commitment to after-sales support means you can rely on us for expert assistance whenever needed.
Why Choose HaB Direct?
HaB Direct has over 30 years of experience supplying world-class biomechanics equipment to universities, research institutions, and elite sports facilities. Our team offers expert advice, seamless installation, and exceptional after-sales support to ensure your biomechanics lab operates at peak performance.
We also collaborate with leading institutions to showcase real-world applications of our products. Stay tuned for links to case studies demonstrating how these biomechanics tools have contributed to cutting-edge research and performance analysis.
Get in Touch
Ready to build your ideal biomechanics lab? Contact HaB Direct today to explore our range of biomechanics solutions and receive expert guidance tailored to your specific needs.
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