Nonlinear Analysis of Human Movement

Code: DES14254M

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Human Kinetics

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Saúde e bem-estar - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Learning Goals

At the end of the course unit, students should:
1. Develop fundamental knowledge about dynamic and complex systems;
2. Know and interpret concepts such as chaos, non-linear dynamics, self-organization, and complexity;
3. know how to support the use of non-linear analysis methods understand real-world applications to human movement: postural control, human gait, motor control, motor development, and sports behaviour.

1. Dynamic and complex systems
2. Introduction to variability;
3. Time series;
4. Reconstruction of the state space;
5. Expoente de lyapunov;
6. Fractal analysis;
7. Surrogation;
8. Entropy;
9. Examples and applications.

Teaching Methods

Exposure matter orally with the help of audio-visual means and calculation programs. Using the direct method and deductive presentation of concepts. Student-centered learning, as a facilitator of learning through research and reading articles and documents, promoting true understanding, valuing and promoting cooperative and collaborative work between the group members. The practical classes will be based on problem-solving that accompany the theoretical subject with students' strong participation in data processing with the resources taught.
The evaluation process will comprise (i) written tests (60%) or a final written examination (60%); (ii) development of an individual report on the application of nonlinear analysis to human movement (databases of theoretical-practical classes) (40%).