Biomechanics laboratories

Analyse movement at the highest level – from elite sport performance to injury prevention and neurological research – in one of the world's best-equipped biomechanics labs. 

Research in the biomechanics lab

Victoria University’s biomechanics lab at Footscray Park is purpose-built for studying how the human body moves – and what happens when movement goes wrong.  

The lab supports research across sport performance, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and clinical conditions including motor neuron disease. 

The lab is built to handle the full spectrum of human movement research. Its 11-metre ceiling accommodates high-jump athletics and overhead filming.  

A 12-metre external runway with embedded force plates captures movement across a full approach run.  

The 436m² space can run four concurrent studies, with impact-resistant walls, large-format data projection screens, and a dedicated equipment control room. 

Equipment & technology

The biomechanics lab is recognised as a leading facility in Australia for conducting world-class research in sport and gait biomechanics.

It is extensively equipped for data collection with human participants using:

  • three 3-D movement analysis systems
  • an AMTI force-plate embedded motorised treadmill
  • 8 stationary AMTI force plates.

Other apparatus includes:

  • a Noraxon EMG telemetry system
  • Pedar and F-scan in-shoe pressure measurement
  • body-mounted inertial sensor system
  • high-speed cameras
  • a virtual-reality environment for movement simulations.

Data processing is undertaken using Visual3D, Vicon Nexus and MATLAB platforms running on a dedicated computer network.

A man walks on a treadmill in the biomechanics lab for fall research
Researcher strapping participant to treadmill
View of the screen showing treadmill data
Students placing cones outside biomechanics lab
Biomechanics lab wide interior shot
Students walking into biomechanics lab from outside
Person attaching motion sensors to another person's leg
Student kicks a football in the biomechanics lab
Researcher testing range of motion on a student
Students walking into the biomechanics lab

How students use the space

The biomechanics lab also functions as a practical learning space for undergraduate students studying: 

  • sport science 

  • exercise science 

  • physical education 

  • physiotherapy 

  • biomedical and exercise science. 

Students get the chance to work on projects and go on industry placements with professional sporting organisations and VU partners like the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory, and the Australian Institute of Sport. 

Researchers & partners

The biomechanics lab supports a range of external research partnerships and collaborations with sporting organisations. Its combination of motion capture, force measurement, EMG, and virtual reality systems makes it well suited to research designs ranging from single-session performance testing to longitudinal clinical studies.  

The biomechanics lab is one part of a broader sport science ecosystem at VU, alongside exercise physiology labs, a DEXA scanner, altitude chambers, and a dedicated sleep research facility under the Institute for Health and Sport (IHES). 

Institute for Health & Sport (IHES)

We are a flagship research institute at Victoria University that address real-world problems in health, sport and active living.

Learn more about IHES