Smart Body Measurement Body Tracking in Competitive Sports

Dr. rer. medic. Hauke Dewitz from the Ortho Sports Lab in Cologne gave an interview to Vitronic and explained how 3D body scans can help to foster the strengths of athletes, eliminate their weaknesses and better tailor training to their needs.

When it comes to improving an athlete's performance, two things need to be focused on: the current physical status and its change during training. 3D body scans can be extremely useful to keep an eye on both.

1. The status quo

3D body scans provide real 360° full-body images and show athletes in their entirety. This allows existing deficits and asymmetries to be identified and systematically addressed during training. An example scenario: a soccer player is concentrating too much on developing the legs and lower body and neglects the upper body. By using a 3D body scan, a postural weakness in the upper torso is revealed that needs to be addressed to maintain or even enhance performance. In other words, the scan technology makes visible where the athlete can improve.
Furthermore, a 3D body scan can be taken as a starting point or baseline for certain training phases to visualize the development later on. And that brings us to the second advantage of the solution.

2. The progress in training

As the 3D scans are quick and easy to repeat and do not require radiation and the like, the images can be consulted again and again to assess the development of athletes. Is everything going according to plan or does the training need to be adjusted? Especially with young athletes, where growth still plays a major role and can be an intervening factor, 3D body scans help to keep an eye on physical changes. And since the scans provide comprehensive body data, coaches and coaching teams can compile the relevant checkpoints for themselves and their athletes.

3. Taking the athlete along

Another advantage of 3D body scans that should not be underestimated is that the images can also be utilized to show the athletes what needs to be improved or how their bodies have changed because of training. This is particularly important if an athlete is not yet aware of any physical changes or changes in performance. Then the “visible” proof of development is a decisive motivating factor, which in turn promotes the training success.

VITRONIC's 3D body scan platform BodyLoop is an innovation in the field of full-body scanners. It is equipped with advanced analysis software that was specifically developed for sports medicine applications. The technology therefore not only supports the tracking of training success, but also back-to-sport processes and the effect of preventative measures.