SIMPLE NEURO-MECHANICAL MEASURE OF THE LOCOMOTOR SKILL - AN EXAMPLE OF BACKWARD SOMERSAULT

We have studied skilled human locomotions in sports gymnastics by meas urement and analysis of ground reaction force and myoelectric signals. Assuming the quality of performance to be a skill level criterion acq uired signals were mathematically analyzed via basic signal processing and cross-correlation methods. The study of backward somersault yield ed quantitative criteria of performance, proposing an original measure - an inter-muscular cross-correlation function. Besides motor learnin g, the quantification of movement skill introduced here also relates t o possible applications in biocybernetics, robotics and rehabilitation medicine.