BIOMECHANIC

S CONCEPTS
BIOMECHANICS
Study of Biological Systems by Means of
Mechanical Principles
father of Mechanics
Sir Isaac Newton
 BIOMECHANICS

Biology Physics

Skeletal Muscular Nervous Mechanics

system system system

Kinetics Kinematics

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 HUMAN MOVEMENT ANALYSIS

BIOMECHANICS KINESIOLOGY

KINETICS KINEMATICS FUNCTIONAL

Linear Angular Linear Angular

Position Position
Velocity Velocity Force Torque
Acceleration Acceleration
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 Basic types of Motion
 Linear
 Rectilinear
 Curvilinear
 Angular or rotational
 Combined or general

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 Human Analysis
 Internal: mechanical factors
creating and controlling
movement inside the body
 External: factors affecting
motion from outside the body

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 Kinematics
 Describes motion
 Time
 Position
 Displacement
 Velocity
 Acceleration
 Vectors
 Angular and linear quantities
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 Kinematics Formulas
Linear Motion Angular Motion

Symbol Equation Symbol Equation

Time t t=t2-t1 t t=t2-t1

Position (x,y) (r,)

Displacement d d=d2-d1 

Velocity v v=d/t  =/t

Acceleration a a=v/t  =/t

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 Kinetics
 Explains causes of motion Axis
 Mass
 amount of matter (kg)
 Inertia: resistance to being moved
 Moment of Inertia (rotation) I = m·r2

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 Kinetics
 Force: push or pull that tends to
produce acceleration
 Important factor in injuries
 Vector

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 Kinetics
 Idealized force vector
 Force couple system

F
F’ F M=Fd
d d d
= =

F F
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 Kinetics: Force
 Force & Injury factors
 Magnitude
 Location
 Direction
 Duration
 Frequency
 Variability
 Rate
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 Kinetics: Force System
 Linear
 Parallel

 Concurrent

 General

 Force Couple
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 Center of Mass (COm) or Gravity
(COG)
 It is an imaginary point where
there is intersection of all 3
cardinal plane.
 Imaginary point where all the
mass of the body or system is
concentrated
 Point where the body’s mass is
equally distributed
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 Pressure
 P = F/A
 Units (Pa = N m2)
 In the human body also
called stress
 Important predisposing
factor for injuries

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 Moments of Force (Torque)
 Effect of a force that tends
to cause rotation about an
axis
 M = F ·d (Nm)
 If F and d are 
 Force through axis

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 Moments of Force (Torque)
 Force components
 Rotation
 Stabilizing or destabilizing
component

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 Moments of Force (Torque)
 Net Joint Moment
 Sum of the moments acting
about an axis
 Human: represent the
muscular activity at a joint
 Concentric action
 Eccentric action
 Isometric
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 Moments of Force (Torque)
 Large moments tends to produce injuries on the
musculo-skeletal system
 Structural deviation leads to different MA’s

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NEWTONIAN
LAWS of Motion

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 1st Law of Motion
 A body a rest or in a
uniform (linear or angular)
motion will tend to remain
at rest or in motion unless
acted by an external force
or torque
 Whiplash injuries

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 2nd Law of Motion
 A force or torque acting on a body will produce an
acceleration proportional to the force or torque
 F = m ·a or T= I ·

F
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 3rd Law of Motion
 For every action there is an
equal and opposite reaction
(torque and/or force)
 Contact forces: GRF, other
players etc.

GRF

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 Equilibrium
 Sum of forces and the sum of
moments must equal zero
 F=0
 M=0
 Dynamic Equilibrium
 Must follow equations of motions
 F=mxa
 T=Ix

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 Work & Power
 Mechanical Work
 W= F ·d (Joules)
 W= F ·d·cos ()
 Power: rate of work
d
 P = W/t (Watts)
W W
 P = F ·v
 P = F ·(d/t)

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 Mechanical Energy
 Capacity or ability to
do work
 Accounts for most
severe injuries
 Classified into
 Kinetic (motion)
 Potential (position or
deformation)
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 Kinetic Energy
 Body’s motion
 Linear or Angular
 KE=.5·m·v2
 KE=.5 ·I·2

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 Potential Energy
 Gravitational: potential to
perform work due to the
height of the body
 Ep= m·g·h
 Strain: energy stored due to
deformation
 Es= .5·k·x2

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 Total Mechanical Energy
 Body segment’s: rigid (nodeformable), no strain
energy in the system
 TME = Sum of KE, KE, PE

TME = (.5·m ·v2)+(.5 ·I ·2)+(m ·g ·h )

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 Momentum
P
 Quantity of motion
 p=m ·v (linear)
 Conservation of Momentum
 Transfer of Momentum
 Injury may result when momentum
transferred exceeds the tolerance
of the tissue
 Impulse = Momentum

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 Angular Momentum
 Quantity of angular
motion
 H=I · (angular)
 Conservation of angular
momentum
 Transfer of angular
momentum

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 Collisions
 Large impact forces due to short impact time
 Elastic deformation
 Plastic deformation (permanent change)
 Elasticity: ability to return to original shape
 Elastoplastic collisions
 Some permanent deformation
 Transfer and loss of energy & velocity
 Coefficient of restitution
 e=Rvpost/Rvpre
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 Friction
 Resistance between two bodies
trying to slide
 Imperfection of the surfaces
 Microscopic irregularities -
asperities
 Static friction
 f<  ·N
s
f
 Kinetic
 f=µ ·N
k N
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 Friction
 Rolling: Lower that static and kinetic
friction (100-1000 times)
 Joint Friction - minimized
 Blood vessels - atherosclerosis

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 FLUID MECHANICS

Branch of Mechanics Dealing with the

Properties & Behaviors of Gases & Fluids
 Fluid Flow
 Laminar
 Turbulent
 Effects of friction on
arterial blood flow

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 Fluid Forces
 Buoyancy
 Drag
 Surface
 Pressure
 Wave
 Lift
 Magnus forces
 Viscosity
 Biological tissue must have a fluid component

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 Fluid Forces

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