BIOMECHANICS AND

ERGONOMICS I

RESOURCE PERSON: Dr Sanaullah

REFERENCE TEXT: SUSAN J HALL & NORDIN
SEMESTER: III
Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition
Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
• Introduction to biomechanics
• Branches of mechanics and biomechanics
• Motion – forms of motion
• Reference terminology
• Planes
• Axis
• Joints movements terminology

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 INTRODUCTION
BIO
Meaning“life,” with the field of

MECHANICS, which is the study of the

actions of forces, (both internal muscle
forces and external forces.) In
biomechanics we analyze the mechanical
aspects of living organisms.

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 What is biomechanics?

bio mechanics

Application of mechanical principles in

the study of living organisms
Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition
Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Sub-branches Of Bio-Mechanics

• Statics:: study of systems in rest or

Statics
constant motion, (including zero motion)

• Dynamics
Dynamics:: study of systems subject to
acceleration

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Sub-branches Of Biomechanics

•Kinematics: study of the appearance

or description of motion

• Kinetics: study of the actions of forces

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Describe someone out for a run
Kinematics
How far did she run?
How long to run that far?
How fast was she?
How big is she?

Kinetics
What friction under her feet?
What forces on her joints?
What tension in her muscles?

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Chapter 2
Kinematic Concepts
for Analyzing Human
Motion
Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition
By Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition

McGraw-Hill/Irwin Susan J. Hall, © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ph.D.
 MOTION

Change in position of an object with

respect to time

Motion is typically described in terms of

displacement, distance, velocity,

acceleration, time and speed.

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition
Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 MOTION

Body motion is produced or started by some

action of muscular system

Motion cannot occur without a force

Muscular system is source of force in humans

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Forms of motion:

Linear motion: motion along a line

• Rectilinear motion: (along a straight line)

• Curvilinear motion: (along a curved line)

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 Motion -Linear

Everything is moving in the same

direction and at the same speed

SPORTING EXAMPLE =THE BOB

SLEIGH
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Forms of motion:

General motion: a combination of linear and

angular motion (includes most human
motion)

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Most human movement is general motion

A complex combination of
 Translational &
Rotational motion
simultaneously

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Somersault-rotation about
mediolateral axis

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Forms of motion:

Angular motion: rotation around an axis

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 Biomechanics

Motion -Angular

Circular motion about a point. i.e.

The elbow being fixed when the
forearm moves in a half circle in a
tennis serve

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Forms of motion: Angular motion

Curvilinear motion

Rectilinear motion

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 Forms of Motion

•Linear & angular motion are related

–angular motion of the joints produces the linear
motion of walking
•Sports ex. - cumulative angular motion of the
joints imparts linear motion to a thrown object (ball,
shot) or to an object struck with an instrument (bat,
racket)
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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Motion -General

General = Angular + Linear

SPORTING EXAMPLE = Javelin

Swimming
Running

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 What is a mechanical system?

• Before determining the nature of a

movement, the mechanical system of interest
must be defined.

•System – a body or group of bodies whose

motion is being analyzed

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
•examples: throwing arm, kicking leg,
the trunk during performance of a lift,
the entire body during performance of a
maximal vertical jump

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 What is anatomical reference position?

• Erect standing position with all body parts

facing forward
• considered the starting point for all body
segment movements

•Not a natural standing position

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Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-24
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Standard Reference Terminology
Directional Terms

•Superior (cranial)
•Inferior (caudal)
•Anterior (ventral/volar)
•Posterior (dorsal)
•Medial
•Lateral
•Proximal
•Distal
•Superficial
•Deep
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 Standard Reference Terminology
Anatomical Reference Planes

Cardinal planes – 3 imaginary perpendicular

reference planes that divide the body in half by
mass
Sagittal plane
Frontal plane
Transverse plane

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Reference planes:

• sagittal plane - in which forward and

backward movements occur
• frontal plane - in which lateral movements
occur
• transverse plane - in which rotational
movements occur

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 Standard Reference Terminology
Anatomical Reference Axes

•For an individual standing in anatomical reference

position, the three cardinal planes all intersect at a single

point known as the body’s center of mass or center of

gravity
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 Standard Reference Terminology
Anatomical Reference Axes

An imaginary axis of rotation that

passes through a joint to which it is
attached
Frontal axis
Sagittal axis
Longitudinal axis or vertical axis

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Reference axes:
Longitudinal axis - directed vertically and around which rotational
movements occur

Anteroposterior axis – directed along the sagittal plane

and around which rotations in the frontal plane occur

Mediolateral axis – directed along the frontal plane and

around which rotations in the sagittal plane occur

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Standard Reference Terminology
Anatomical Reference Planes and axes

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Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-32
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Joint Movement Terminology

In anatomical position, all body segments are

considered to be positioned at zero degrees.
Sagittal Plane Movements
Frontal Plane Movements
Transverse Plane Movements

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What movements occur in the sagittal plane?

Flexion Extension Hyperextension

Dorsiflexion Plantar flexion

Basic th edition
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Hall, Ph.D.
Ph.D.
What movements occur in the frontal plane?
Radial Ulnar
deviation deviation

Abduction Adduction
Lateral flexion

Elevation Depression Eversion Inversion

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 What movements occur in the transverse
plane?

Horizontal
adduction

Pronation Supination
Medial Lateral Horizontal
rotation rotation abduction

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Movement occurs around which In which plane are the
axis in jumping jacks? legs of the cyclist
moving?
Sagittal axis
Sagittal plane
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Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-38
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 Spatial Reference Systems

• useful for standardizing descriptions

of human motion
• most commonly used is the Cartesian
coordinate system
• human body joint centers are labeled
with numerical x and y coordinates

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 Spatial Reference Systems
Y

(x,y) = (3,7)

X
(0,0)

Cartesian coordinates of the hip

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ByBiomechanics, edition 2-40
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 Spatial Reference Systems
y

x=- x=+
y=+ y=+

x
(0,0)

x=- x=+
y=- y=-

Coordinates can be both positive and

negative.
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ByBiomechanics, edition 2-41
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PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACH

Analysis of human movement may be

•Qualitative – description of quality

without use of numbers

•Quantitative – numbers are involved

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Qualitative vs. Quantitative
Example:
After watching a long jump how would you
describe it both qualitatively and quantitatively?
• Qualitative: it was a good jump
• Quantitative: the jump was 2.1m long

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Solving Formal Quantitative
Problems:
•Read the problem carefully.
• List the given information.
• Write down what quantity is to be
solved for.
• Draw a diagram of the problem
situation.
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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Solving Formal Quantitative
Problems:

•Select the appropriate formula to use.

• Review the problem statement to
determine if more information can
be inferred.
• Substitute the given information into
the formula.
Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-45
Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Solving Formal Quantitative
Problems:
•Solve the equation for the
unknown variable.
• Do a “common sense” check of
the answer.
• Box in your answer, including the
correct units of measurement.
Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-46
Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Qualitative Analysis of Human
Movement
•Qualitative refers to a description
of quality without the use of
numbers.

•Requires knowledge of the

specific biomechanical purpose of
the movement and the ability to
detect the causes of errors

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-47

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Prerequisite Knowledge for a Qualitative
Analysis
•Kinematics
•Performance outcome

Analysts should be able to

distinguish the cause of a
problem from symptoms of the
problem

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Tools for Measuring Kinematic
Quantities
•Cinematography &
Videography
–Standard video 30
pictures per second
–Higher rates available
–Clarity of images
–Number of cameras to
capture information
–Computer-linked
equipment – digitizing
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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Measuring Kinematic Quantities
•Other Movement Monitoring
Systems
•Real-time tracking of
LEDs
•Computer-linked cameras
track targets
•Other Assessment Tools
•Goniometer or
Electrogoniometer
•Photocells, light beams,
and timers
•Accelerometer th
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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Biomechanics:
Does it exist in more
than one field?
Exercise and sport
biomechanics
Orthopedic
biomechanics
Occupational
biomechanics
Biomechanics of other
biological systems
Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition
Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
2-51
Biomechanics – Does it exist in
more than one field?
Exercise and sport
biomechanics
improving athletic
performance, reduction of
athletic injuries

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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Biomechanics – Does it exist
in more than one field?
•Orthopedic biomechanics
artificial limbs, joints, and
orthoses to improve
functional movement
capacity

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-53

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 Biomechanics – Does it exist in
more than one field?
Occupational
Biomechanics
Ergonomics and
Human Factors
reduction of
workplace injuries

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-54

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
Biomechanics – Does it exist
in more than one field?
Biomechanics of other biological
systems
Comparative biomechanics
(e.g., swimming in fish,
locomotion in apes)
Equine (horse) and canine (dog)
racing performance

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-55

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
 What do we have
in common?

Application of fundamental
mechanical principles to the study of
structure and function of living
systems.
Common measurement and
analysis tools.

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-56

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
SUMMARY
Introduction to biomechanics
Branches of mechanics and
biomechanics
Motion – forms of motion
Reference terminology
Planes
Axis
Joints movements
terminology
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Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.
The End
THANK
YOU!!

Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition 2-58

Susan J. Hall, Ph.D.