Search:

Biomechanics Lab

The Institute of Sport biomechanics lab at the University of Hertfordshire is a high-performance research and teaching space, combining world-class technology and academic expertise.

Home to some of the most advanced motion analysis systems in UK higher education, the lab is used by students, researchers, and elite athletes for athlete development and hands-on student learning. It regularly hosts collaborative studies in performance optimisation, injury prevention, rehabilitation, concussion, exertion, and training load.

At its centre is the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL), a sophisticated system for gait and balance assessment, motor learning, perturbation training, and virtual reality-based movement analysis. The GRAIL treadmill integrates motion capture with force measurement to deliver real-time feedback in a controlled setting, widely used in rehabilitation and neurological or musculoskeletal research.

The lab also features the Motek 3D camera system, multiple force plates, EMG sensors, and motion capture tools for detailed analysis of movement and muscle activity. An environmental chamber simulates temperatures from 10 to 40°C and altitudes up to 5,750 metres, while the Bod Pod provides gold-standard body composition analysis. Sports therapy labs with video systems support both clinical training and research.