What is biomechanics?

Application of
mechanical principles
in the study of
living organisms

Biomechanics I 1
Biomechnaics = Bio + Mechanics
 Bio
living organisms

 Mechanics
the study of the action of forces
on particles and mechanical
systems; a branch of physics
Biomechanics I 2
Sub-branches of biomechanics

 kinematics: study of the appearance

or description of motion

 kinetics: study of the actions of

forces

Biomechanics I 3
 Sub-branches of biomechanics

 statics: study of systems in

constant motion

 dynamics: study of systems subject

to acceleration

Biomechanics I 4
 Main Themes in Biomechanics

 Safety: Prevention of injury

 Effectiveness: maximization of the
output
 Efficiency: economy of energy
expenditure
Biomechanics I 7
 What is Biomechanics used for?
 Improving Sports Performance
– Better technique
– Better equipment (e.g. klapskates)
 Sports Injury Prevention
– Identifying safer techniques
– Developing protective equipment
(e.g. ankle brace)
Biomechanics I 8
 What is Biomechanics used for?
 Occupational Injury Prevention
– (e.g. low back pain, hand & wrist
trauma)
 Injury Rehabilitation
– Identify when safe to return to
activity
 Improving Mobility
– (e.g. surgery planning in cerebral palsy)
Biomechanics I 9
 What is Biomechanics used for?
 Reducing Physical or Functional Declines
– (e.g. reducing injurious falls in older
adults; preventing bone loss in older
space)
• Product Design
– (e.g. athletic shoes, prosthetics,
artificial joints)
Biomechanics I 10
Study of Biomechanics’
problem

Biomechanics I 11
qualitative: pertaining to quality
(without the use of numbers)
 quantitative: involving numbers

Analysis Evaluation/
Testing

Performance Intervention

Biomechanics I 12
 Directional Terms

 Anterior / posterior: toward the

front/back of the body
= ventral/dorsal

 Medial / lateral: toward/away from

the midline of the body

Biomechanics I 13
 Directional Terms

 Superior / inferior: closer/farther

to/from the head = cranial/caudal

 Proximal / distal: closer/away

to/from the trunk

 Superficial / deep: inside the body

and toward/away from the body
surface Biomechanics I 14
 Anatomical Reference Position
 erect standing
position
 feet slightly
separated and
pointed forward
 arms hanging relaxed
at the sides
 palms of hands
facing forward
Biomechanics I 15
 Plane of Motion
 Plane: the imaginary flat surfaces
that pass through the body
– Sagittal : side view
– Coronal (Frontal) : front and
back view
– Transverse (Horizontal) : top
and bottom view
Biomechanics I 16
Biomechanics I 17
 Axis of Motion

• Axis : the imaginary or real line around

which movement takes place

– perpendicular to the plane of movement

– Medial-Lateral

– Anterior-Posterior

– Longitudinal Biomechanics I 18
 Planes and Axes of Motion
Plane Axis Movement
Sagittal Medial-Lateral Flexion / Extension
Dorsiflexion / Plantar Flexion
Anterior / Posterior Pelvic Tilt

Frontal Anterior- Abduction / Adduction

(Coronal) Posterior Lateral Flexion / Lateral Tilt
Inversion / Eversion

Transverse Longitudinal Internal / External Rotation

Pronation / Supination
Horizontal Abduction /
Adduction
Biomechanics I 19
 Movements can be defined based
on how they relate to the body

 Flexion / Extension

 Abduction / Adduction

 Internal rotation / External

rotation

 Plantarflexion / Dorsiflexion
Biomechanics I 20
Biomechanics I 21
 Motion of Objects
 Linear motion (Translation): motion
in which a straight line drawn
between 2 or more points on the body
maintain the same direction during
the movement (show the same
trajectory (motion along a line))
 All points along the line will move
along the parallel paths
Biomechanics I 22
Straight paths rectilinear motion

Biomechanics I 23
Biomechanics I 24
Curved paths curvilinear motion

Biomechanics I 25
Biomechanics I 26
Angular motion (Rotation): rotation around
a fixed axis has all points on a rigid
segment moving in parallel planes along
circular paths about the axis

Biomechanics I 27
Biomechanics I 28
General Motion - combination of
linear motion + angular motion

Biomechanics I 29
Biomechanics I 30
 Motion of rigid body
 All motions can be decomposed
into the three translations and
three rotations
 For a motion to be categorized,
the following must be defined:
 Type of motion (linear or angular)
 The reference frame

 Degree of freedom (2D or 3D)

Biomechanics I 31
2-D Reference Frame

Biomechanics I 32
3-D Reference Frame

Biomechanics I 33
Degrees of Freedom

Biomechanics I 34
 Leverage
F R

First class

R F

Second class

F R

Third class
Biomechanics I 35