INTRODUCTION

How do diving flippers change the motion of a swimmer? Researchers have been using flippers in undersea diving expeditions for decades. Therefore, we would like to investigate how using flippers changes the motion of swimming. The largest differences between the two motions are expected to be found in body joints such as the ankle, knee, and hip.

The purpose of this investigation is to compare the biomechanics of swimming without vs. swimming with flippers. This study will focus on the differences in motion between the knee, hip, and ankle joints. To view these two movement we set up an underwater camera that filmed our subject as she swam. Joint angles, segment positions, and interpolation will be used to analyze and compare these movements. We expect to find differences in the knee and ankle joint angles and velocities.