Running with Tony Buti: Biomechanics trailblazer Bruce Elliott changed the way public understands exercise

Distinguished Emeritus Professor Bruce Elliott of The University of Western Australia had a major influence on my academic career, supervising my physical education honours thesis. We caught up at Scarborough Beach. TONY BUTI: Bruce, you’re not originally from WA, are you? BRUCE ELLIOTT: No, I’m from Sydney. I did my Diploma of Physical Education in Sydney. Then, I was called up into the Army during the Vietnam War conflict. I went to the Officer Training School and then spent 18 months at the Army Physical Training School in Manly, becoming head of the physical training unit for the Australian Army. That gave me a desire to work with adults rather than children. I moved to Perth, to the University of WA, which, at the time, was the only place in Australia where you could convert a diploma of physical education into a degree. I then did a master’s degree and PhD. TB: What was master’s research about? BE: My master’s research looked at the physiological effects of squash on players of different levels and ages. We showed that middle-aged sedentary people who played squash once a week had heart loads as high as, or even higher than A-grade players. In fact, they had higher heart rates than middle-aged active people, even though they played for much less time. It was a bit controversial at the time! Squash court owners weren’t too happy with our findings because their business model was based on people playing once a week. But our message was clear: to really benefit from squash, you need to play more than once a week—and incorporate other forms of exercise. You can’t just walk onto a squash court once a week at 50 years of age and expect it to be good for you. TB: And your PhD looked at what? BE: My PhD was on running mechanics, and it was the first PhD in Biomechanics in Australia. I looked at running mechanics, muscle activity using electromyography (EMG), and the kinematics of running — combining muscle activity with the physics of movement. TB: Just to explain for those who might not know, what exactly is Biomechanics? BE: Biomechanics, in its simplest form, is the study of how the body moves. You’re looking at anatomy (the body itself) and mechanics (the physics of movement) to understand how different parts of the body work together. We study how the body moves, how force is applied, and how movement can be refined to minimize injury. In essence, it’s about understanding the loading on the body and how to improve movement without overloading the system. TB: Did you test Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan spinner who was accused of “throwing”? BE: Yes, we did. Muralitharan was initially called for throwing because his elbow extension allegedly exceeded the legal limit of 15 degrees extension. But when we assessed him, we found that he was actually extending his elbow only about 10 degrees, which was well within the rules. Muralitharan’s case was unique because he had a physical abnormality in his arm that prevented him from fully extending it, which allowed him to bowl his deliveries legally. TB: You’re known for your passion for tennis biomechanics. What work have you done in that area? BE: Our research focused on modifying technique to improve performance while minimizing the risk of injury. One of the key findings from our research was the importance of internal rotation of the shoulder during the serve. We identified it as the major driver of serve velocity, and we developed techniques to optimize this movement while avoiding overloading the body. TB: Do you think success at an elite level inspires the masses to engage in physical activity or participate in sport? BE: Yes, I think it’s very important. But we also need to be cautious not to push kids into a single sport too early. Success at the elite level should inspire people, but it’s important that children engage in a variety of movements and sports in their early years. For most team sports, successful athletes have typically played multiple sports until puberty, when they specialize in one. Early involvement in a variety of movements is crucial for enjoyment and health. Once they reach a certain age, then training can become more focused on specific sports. TB: You used to run half marathons? BE: I was interested in running when I was a university lecturer, and we would do a half marathon at the end of every semester. I’m not sure if it was a punishment for the semester or something we enjoyed, but it became a tradition with some of the technicians in the faculty. TB: How would you sum up your professional career? BE: The thing I’m most proud of is the role I’ve played, as part of a great team, in developing biomechanics in Australia, both academically and within the sporting community. In tennis, I’m the only academic to ever receive the ITF (International Tennis Federation) Service to the Game Award, which is a big deal. They give one every two years, and I’m proud to be the only academic to have received it. One of my greatest joys is seeing graduates, go out and do amazing things. Knowing that I’ve contributed to their success is what brings me the most fulfilment.