Biomechanics

Higher education teachers: Kamnik Roman

Subject description

Objectives: The objective of the course Biomechanics is to familiarize students with fundamental laws of mechanics and to present how these can be applied to understanding and analyzing the living systems. In the perspectives of transferring solutions from the nature the knowledge on biomechanics is fundamental in development of robotic systems, artificial organs, biomaterials, rehabilitation products, simulation models, and intelligent devices for exercise in rehabilitation and sport.

Contents: Introduction to biomechanics; Analysis of rigid and deformable bodies in static conditions; Musculoskeletal motion system in human; Analysis of rigid body dynamics, Analysis of human motion; On-line biomechanical analysis for feedback in exercise.

LECTURES

1. Introduction to biomechanics

2. Analysis of rigid and deformable bodies in static conditions

• statics
• analysis of elastic bodies
• deformations
• mechanics of materials

3. Human biomechanical system in motion

• kinematics of motion
• energy of motion
• Lagrange direct dynamic model
• Newton-Euler inverse dynamic model
• muscle and joint mechanics
• anthropometric human body data
• locomotion – standing, walking, running, rowing

PRACTICAL LABORATORY WORK

The objectives of the laboratory work is to teach students how to autonomously accomplish an acquisition and analysis of biomechanical parameters of human motion in rehabilitation or sport. Practical work is being performed in the laboratory environment, and is accomplished in steps, at the beginning acquainting students with the problem and instrumentation, and toward the end, individually working on a project. The project objectives are the analysis of energy conditions, stability mechanics or joint loadings during dynamic human motion maneuvers. At the end of the semester, students report on their results together with comparison to the results from the literature.

Video 12: Biomechnical analysis of joint loadings in boxing

Study materials

J. D. Humphrey, S.L. Delange, An Introduction to Biomechanics, Solids and Fluids, Analysis and Design, Springer Verlag, New York, 2004.

Y.C. Fung, Biomechanics, Mechanical Properties of Living Tissues, Springer Verlag, New York, 2004.

D. A. Winter, Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey, 2009.

D. Knudson, Fundamentals of Biomechanics, Springer, New York, 2007.

M. Nordin, V. H. Frankel, Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal System, Wolters Kluwer Health, 2012.

P. McGinnis, Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise, Human kinetics, Auckland, 2004.