Mark A Robinson

Markerless Motion Capture

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Traditional marker-based motion capture is accurate but constrained to the laboratory, requiring specialist equipment, calibration and lengthy setup that limit its use in ecologically valid, field-based, or large-scale settings. This research theme explores markerless approaches - using video and pose-estimation/deep learning methods - to capture human movement without reflective markers or wearable sensors.

The aim is to establish the validity, reliability and practical limitations of markerless methods relative to established marker-based and force-based techniques, and to identify where they can extend biomechanical assessment beyond the lab: pitchside, in clinic, and during real competition.

New projects, collaborations and students in this area are welcome.

Simultaneously assessing amplitude and temporal effects in biomechanical trajectories using nonlinear registration and statistical nonparametric mapping

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Identifying joint-specific gait mechanisms causing impaired gait in alkaptonuria patients

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Change of direction frequency off the ball: New perspectives in elite youth soccer

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

An ecological dynamics approach to ACL injury risk research: a current opinion

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Automated Classification of Changes of Direction in Soccer Using Inertial Measurement Units

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The non-sagittal knee moment vector identifies ‘at risk’ individuals that the knee abduction moment alone does not

Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Sample size estimation for biomechanical waveforms: Current practice, recommendations and a comparison to discrete power analysis

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The inter-laboratory equivalence for lower limb kinematics and kinetics during unplanned sidestepping

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

PCA of waveforms and functional PCA: A primer for biomechanics

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Prescribing joint co-ordinates during model preparation in OpenSim improves lower limb unplanned sidestepping kinematics

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Clinical projects

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:43:18 +0000

Key collaborators:

Prof. Gabor Barton - LJMU, Liverpool, UK.

This research theme covers multiple projects demonstrating the breadth of applications for biomechanical approaches. Clinical applications include clinical gait analysis, chronic ankle instability, alkaptonuria (a rare genetic disease), scleroderma and spinal cord injury. Clinical collaborations are welcome - please get in contact with ideas for potential projects.

Mark’s PhD evaluated tetraplegic reaching after tendon-transfer, a surgical procedure to restore active elbow extension [this project is no longer active].

Knee biomechanics

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:43:18 +0000

Key collaborators:

Prof. Jos Vanrenterghem - KU Leuven, Belgium

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a primary knee stabiliser that is most commonly injured during dynamic team sports e.g. soccer, handball, netball. This research theme focusses on the evaluation of biomechanical and neuromuscular risk factors which are widely believed to be modifiable. Our systematic reviews in each of these areas evaluated the current knowledge and quality of research indicating lack of consensus within the literature.

By challenging athletes performance during dynamic tasks such as sidestepping, jumping and landing and combining this with robust methods and novel techniques we establish new insights into ACL injury risk.

Methods

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:43:18 +0000

Biomechanics is a relatively young scientific discipline and has seen tremendous advancement in technologies. There is therefore a necessary emphasis on establishing appropriate methods. This research theme collects together methods focussed papers that underpin the research in other themes. The primary focus is on geometric modelling approaches for kinematic and kinetic analysis.

Statistical Parametric Mapping

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:43:18 +0000

Key collaborators:

A. Prof. Todd Pataky - Kyoto University, Japan

A. Prof. Jos Vanrenterghem - KU Leuven, Belgium

This research theme primarily focuses on the integration of statistical parametric mapping into biomechanics through the use of open-source package spm1d (www.spm1d.org, Pataky 2012). Arguably our most influential paper is Pataky et al. (2013) which introduces vector-field analysis (multivariate statistical analysis of waveforms) to biomechanics. Other technical spm1d papers address issues including non-parametric inference, regions-of-interest, EMG, and waveform homogeneity.

Other research has addressed biomechanical data analysis more broadly by demonstrating the likelihood of false positives with 0D data analysis and 1D power analysis. This work has also branched into complementary methods including Functional Data Analysis and Principal Component Analysis through collaboration with Dr. John Warmenhoven.

Training Load Monitoring

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:43:18 +0000

Key collaborators:

Prof. Barry Drust - University of Birmingham, UK

A. Prof. Jos Vanrenterghem - KU Leuven, Belgium

Prof. Warren Gregson - LJMU, UK

Understanding the dose-response relationship is fundamental to athletic monitoring and sports science. Monitoring of individual players “dose” of exercise is now possible through wearable multi-sensor technology fusing GPS, accelerometry and gyroscopic data. Research in this theme has redressed the balance between metabolic and mechanical dose and response (see Vanrenterghem et al. 2017) whilst exploring if relevant field based measures are possible.

Award winning PhD students Niels Nedergaard (Young Investigator Award - Aspire Monitoring Athlete Training Loads Conference, Doha, Qatar) and Jasper Verheul (BJSM - PhD Academy Award) have evaluated the challenge of predicting ground reaction forces from acceleration signals (see Nedergaard et al. 2018) and summarised the challenge of making field-based biomechanical measurements for practioners (see Verheul et al. 2020)

Multidimensional ground reaction forces and moments from wearable sensor accelerations via deep learning

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Whole-body dynamic stability in side cutting: Implications for markers of lower limb injury risk and change of direction performance

Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A neural network method to predict task- and step-specific ground reaction force magnitudes from trunk accelerations during running activities

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Measuring biomechanical loads in team sports – from lab to field

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A kinematic comparison of gait with a backpack versus a trolley for load carriage in children

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Identifying generalised segmental acceleration patterns that contribute to ground reaction force features across different running tasks

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

On the validity of statistical parametric mapping for nonuniformly and heterogeneously smooth one-dimensional biomechanical data

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Whole-body biomechanical load in running-based sports: The validity of estimating ground reaction forces from segmental accelerations

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Biomechanical loading during running: can a two mass-spring-damper model be used to evaluate ground reaction forces for high-intensity tasks?

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Bayesian inverse kinematics vs. least-squares inverse kinematics in estimates of planar postures and rotations in the absence of soft tissue artifact

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Is knee neuromuscular activity related to anterior cruciate ligament injury risk? A pilot study

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Smoothing can systematically bias small samples of one-dimensional biomechanical continua

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The feasibility of predicting ground reaction forces during running from a trunk accelerometry driven mass-spring-damper model

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000

A force profile analysis comparison between functional data analysis, statistical parametric mapping and statistical non-parametric mapping in on-water single sculling

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Teaching

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Mark is an experienced Higher Education teacher and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Teaching Areas

Mark teaches on the undergraduate Sport & Exercise Science and Science & Football programmes, and on the MSc Sport and Clinical Biomechanics programme.

Academic Roles

Programme leader [2017 - 2022]
Module leader [2005 - date]
Year tutor [2012 - 2016]

Academic Awards

Mark has been nominated by LJMU students in their Amazing Teaching Awards in the categories of Amazing Academic Supervisor, Amazing Teacher and Amazing Programme Team.

He gained a LJMU Teaching and Learning Excellence Award in 2019 for Academic Leadership.

External Examiner Roles

BSc Health & Performance Science programme at University College Dublin [2017 - 2020]
MSc Sports Biomechanics at Loughborough University [2022 - date]

He has also been an external panel member for new UG and PG courses in the UK.

Synthesis of Subject-Specific Human Balance Responses Using a Task-Level Neuromuscular Control Platform

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000

A simple method of equine limb force vector analysis and its potential applications

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

A computational framework for estimating statistical power and planning hypothesis-driven experiments involving one-dimensional biomechanical continua

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Training Load Monitoring in Team Sports: A Novel Framework Separating Physiological and Biomechanical Load-Adaptation Pathways

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Mechanical Player Load™ using trunk-mounted accelerometry in football: Is it a reliable, task- and player-specific observation?

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Can segmental model reductions quantify whole-body balance accurately during dynamic activities?

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The Relationship Between Whole-Body External Loading and Body-Worn Accelerometry During Team-Sport Movements

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Vector-field statistics for the analysis of time varying clinical gait data

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Mapping current research trends on neuromuscular risk factors of non-contact ACL injury

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Region-of-interest analyses of one-dimensional biomechanical trajectories: bridging 0D and 1D theory, augmenting statistical power

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Mapping current research trends on anterior cruciate ligament injury risk against the existing evidence: In vivo biomechanical risk factors

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Performance of a lateral pelvic cluster technical system in evaluating running kinematics

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The probability of false positives in zero-dimensional analyses of one-dimensional kinematic, force and EMG trajectories

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Knee and Hip Joint Kinematics Predict Quadriceps and Hamstrings Neuromuscular Activation Patterns in Drop Jump Landings

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The Utility of a High-intensity Exercise Protocol to Prospectively Assess ACL Injury Risk

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Effects of treadmill versus overground soccer match simulations on biomechanical markers of anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in side cutting

Sat, 01 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Dynamic Neuromuscular Control of the Lower Limbs in Response to Unexpected Single-Planar versus Multi-Planar Support Perturbations in Young, Active Adults

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Multi-segment foot landing kinematics in subjects with chronic ankle instability

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Lower Limb Landing Biomechanics in Subjects with Chronic Ankle Instability:

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

How reliable are knee kinematics and kinetics during side-cutting manoeuvres?

Fri, 01 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Zero- vs. one-dimensional, parametric vs. non-parametric, and confidence interval vs. hypothesis testing procedures in one-dimensional biomechanical trajectory analysis

Fri, 01 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Can two-dimensional measured peak sagittal plane excursions during drop vertical jumps help identify three-dimensional measured joint moments?

Sun, 01 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Age-Related Deviation of Gait from Normality in Alkaptonuria

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Asymmetry after Hamstring Injury in English Premier League: Issue Resolved, Or Perhaps Not?

Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) for alpha-based statistical analyses of multi-muscle EMG time-series

Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

The reliability of the ELEPAP clinical protocol for the 3D kinematic evaluation of upper limb function

Sun, 01 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Two-way ANOVA for scalar trajectories, with experimental evidence of non-phasic interactions

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Impact of Knee Modeling Approach on Indicators and Classification of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk:

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Vector field statistics for objective center-of-pressure trajectory analysis during gait, with evidence of scalar sensitivity to small coordinate system rotations

Thu, 01 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

How Reliable Are Lower-Limb Kinematics and Kinetics during a Drop Vertical Jump?

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Manipulation of visual biofeedback during gait with a time delayed adaptive Virtual Mirror Box

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Primary and submovement control of aiming in C6 tetraplegics following posterior deltoid transfer

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Gait Kinematics of Subjects with Ankle Instability Using a Multisegmented Foot Model:

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Vector field statistical analysis of kinematic and force trajectories

Sun, 01 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The effect of running speed on knee mechanical loading in females during side cutting

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

A marker based kinematic method of identifying initial contact during gait suitable for use in real-time visual feedback applications

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

An evaluation of anatomical and functional knee axis definition in the context of side-cutting

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Sensory-motor equivalence: manual aiming in C6 tetraplegics following musculotendinous transfer surgery at the elbow

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Analysis of tetraplegic reaching in their 3D workspace following posterior deltoid-triceps tendon transfer

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Solutions for representing the whole-body centre of mass in side cutting manoeuvres based on data that is typically available for lower limb kinematics

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The influence of Cardan rotation sequence on angular orientation data for the lower limb in the soccer kick

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

An electromyographic investigation of abdominal exercises and the effects of fatigue

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:00 +0000