Shizuoka Sangyo University | Dr. Nakai

■ Introduction to Classes Taught by Dr. Nakai

I teach at the Faculty of Sports Science at Shizuoka Sangyo University. My areas of expertise include sports medicine, physical therapy, and health science, with a particular focus on movement research. My work involves injury risk assessment using the Functional Movement Screen for athletes and investigating the realities of locomotive syndrome among the elderly to promote health and prevent the need for care.

■ Challenges Before Introducing SPLYZA Motion

Before implementing SPLYZA Motion, movement measurement classes required students to attach markers, which was time-consuming and limited the number of participants, making it challenging to conduct sessions for larger groups.

■ Reasons for Choosing SPLYZA Motion

The simplicity of SPLYZA Motion allowed many students to easily perform movement measurements and analyses, which was a major advantage and the primary reason for its adoption.

■ Practical Use of SPLYZA Motion

SPLYZA Motion is utilized in classes to measure and analyze movements such as walking. Textbooks describe the angles at which joints like the hips and knees bend, but we use the app to capture images and verify these angles in practice. With around 20 iPads available, students are divided into groups for hands-on activities that bridge theory and practice. The app is also used in graduation research projects, with this year's focus on measuring jumping movements.

■ Effects After Introducing SPLYZA Motion

In traditional movement measurement classes using marker-based systems, it was only possible to perform demonstrations for a 50-student class, limiting hands-on experience to small seminars or graduation research projects. Since introducing SPLYZA Motion, more students can experience movement measurement in class.

It has become particularly easy to handle measurements of joint angles and walking speeds in classes, enabling students to compare theoretical concepts with actual movements. This has significantly deepened their understanding.

Students can measure their own or their peers' movements and instantly view data such as angles and speeds in real time. This use of live data as a teaching tool not only enriches learning but also sparks greater interest and engagement among students.