Estimates lab-grade 3D musculoskeletal forces from a single smartphone video.
March 27, 2026
Original Paper
OpenCap Monocular: 3D Human Kinematics and Musculoskeletal Dynamics from a Single Smartphone Video
arXiv · 2603.24733
The Takeaway
This democratizes biomechanical analysis that previously required multi-camera setups and force plates, enabling clinical-grade kinetics monitoring (like quadriceps force) for anybody with a phone.
From the abstract
Quantifying human movement (kinematics) and musculoskeletal forces (kinetics) at scale, such as estimating quadriceps force during a sit-to-stand movement, could transform prediction, treatment, and monitoring of mobility-related conditions. However, quantifying kinematics and kinetics traditionally requires costly, time-intensive analysis in specialized laboratories, limiting clinical translation. Scalable, accurate tools for biomechanical assessment are needed. We introduce OpenCap Monocular,