New AI system enables detailed biomechanical analysis of human movement using only a smartphone camera, potentially democratizing clinical mobility assessment

OpenCap Monocular uses a single smartphone video to estimate 3D skeletal kinematics and musculoskeletal forces, eliminating the need for expensive laboratory equipment

The algorithm combines pose estimation from the WHAM model with physics-based simulation and machine learning to calculate forces like quadriceps tension during movements

Method was validated against traditional marker-based motion capture and force plate data for activities including walking and squats

Technology could transform prediction, treatment, and monitoring of mobility-related conditions by making biomechanical assessment scalable and accessible beyond specialized facilities