Using a Kinect Device to Evaluate Amplitude of Horizontal Rotation on the Pommel Horse

It is difficult to obtain timely feedback from traditional video-based motion analysis during a regular sports training session due to the demands of camera placement and data processing. However, advanced devices such as the Kinect may have practical use in this regard. The present study examined the usefulness of a Kinect device in evaluating pommel horse performance in men’s artistic gymnastics. An original algorithm was developed to compute the head-toe distance (HTDh), one of the key performance variables identified in a previous study, using data collected by a Kinect device. Comparing the data from this algorithm to those obtained by traditional video analysis demonstrated that a Kinect device could be useful for computing HTDh in a practical setting, providing immediate and objective feedback.