College of Education and Health Professions

Welcome to the University of Arkansas Sport Biomechanics Group home page! The University of Arkansas Sport Biomechanics Group is directed by Dr. Gretchen Oliver, Clinical Coordinator of the Athletic Training Education Program. The group evolved in 2008 with a donation from Mr. Bob Carver to purchase the MotionMonitor^TM motion capture system (Innovative Sports Training, Chicago) for the University of Arkansas Athletic Training Education Program. Since 2008, the Sport Biomechanics Group has secured funding from the Arkansas Bioscience Institute as well as the University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle. Primary research emphasis of the group is on kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activations during dynamic sport movements and injury implications. Since 2008, the Sport Biomechanics Group researchers have focused on baseball and softball pitching and catching. The research is continuously developing new initiatives and projects.

This past summer, the University of Arkansas Sport Biomechanics Group was successful in both podium and poster presentation at such prestigious conferences as World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy, Banff, Canada; American College of Sports Medicine, Denver, Colo.; International Society of Biomechanics, Brussels, Belgium; American Society of Biomechanics, Long Beach, Calif.; and The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Colchester, London, U.K.

This upcoming year, the Sport Biomechanics Groups plans to focus on scapular kinematics, drop landings as well as baseball and softball pitching. We will continue to collect data on any type of overhead throwing, baseball/softball pitching and catching.

If you are interested in either assisting in the research or being a participant, please contact Dr. Oliver at goliver@uark.edu.