Performance Testing – Why take biomechanics out of the lab? Because the pitch is where the real game happens. Lab simulations often fail to capture the unique friction between football boots and natural grass, nor can they replicate the authentic behavioral reactions, cognitive demands and physiological fatigue experienced during play. Time is of the essence in elite sports. Decisions about performance readiness, injury risk and return-to-play must be accurate, sport-specific and immediately applicable. This workshop offers a great opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application by bringing biomechanical assessment directly onto the field.
Brain injuries and return to play – Sport-related brain injuries demand practical and reliable tools to guide safe return-to-play decisions. One of them is the dual-task test, which evaluates an athlete’s ability to simultaneously perform a cognitive task (e.g., counting) and a motor task (e.g., balance or walking), a function commonly impaired following brain injury. This workshop will showcase an instrumentalised and fully automated version of the dual-task test, delivered through an app and designed to be simple, standardised and immediately deployable by medical staff in the field. In 10 minutes, the assistant test provides objective metrics, enabling meaningful comparisons over time and supporting more confident, evidence-based return-to-play decisions.
Seamless real-time data collection – This workshop showcases how real-time biomechanical and performance data can be collected seamlessly in the field using a fully connected wearable solution. Participants will experience how multiple sensors can be integrated and streamed live via 4G, without the need for phones, local infrastructure, or post-session synchronisation. The session will include a live demonstration and practical insights into how this approach simplifies data collection and enables immediate analysis in real-world environments.
Participants will witness and actively engage in live demonstrations across four specialised testing stations, each designed to provide actionable insights into performance and injury evaluation:
- Counter Movement Jump (performance testing)
- Change of Direction (performance testing)
- Drop Jump (performance testing)
- Dual Task Test (Brain injuries and Return to play)
Programme:
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
| 10:30 | Introduction | Mina Baniasad |
| 10:40 |
Visit 4 stations per group in rotation |
Mina Baniasad Soroush Bagheri Sibille Planzi Laura Testa Sirisack Samoutphonh |
| 11:50 | Closing / Wrap-up |
Minimum participation requires 10 people and it is limited to 50 people. Please register here. Participation will be confirmed by the organiser via email no later than 29 June.
Date: Monday, 6 July
Time: 10:30 – 12:00
Location: UNIL Campus, Centre Sportif Universitaire de Dorigny
We will be on the football pitch of the Sports and Health Center UNIL, situated directly on the shores of Lac Léman. In case of rain, the session will move to the indoor gym.
Bus and metro stops:
- M1 metro from EPFL to UNIL Sorge, followed by 800-metre walk
- Bus line 1 from Ecublens VD, EPFL/Colladon to Ecublens VD, Blévallaire, followed by 300-metre walk
- Bus line 701 or 705 from Ecublens VD, Campus des médias to Ecublens VD, Blévallaire, followed by 300-metre walk
- A pleasant 15-minute walk from the STCC
Contact:
Dr Mina Baniasad
EPFL
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