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Published:
March 10, 2014

Biomechanics For Dummies

Overview

A thorough explanation of the tenets of biomechanics

At once a basic and applied science, biomechanics focuses on the mechanical cause-effect relationships that determine the motions of living organisms. Biomechanics for Dummies examines the relationship between biological and mechanical worlds. It clarifies a vital topic for students of biomechanics who work in a variety of fields, including biological sciences, exercise and sports science, health sciences, ergonomics and human factors, and engineering and applied science. Following the path of a traditional introductory course, Biomechanics for Dummies covers the terminology and fundamentals of biomechanics, bone, joint, and muscle composition and function, motion analysis and control, kinematics and kinetics, fluid mechanics, stress and strain, applications of biomechanics, and black and white medical illustrations.

  • Offers insights and expertise in biomechanics to provide an easy-to-follow, jargon-free guide to the subject
  • Provides students who major in kinesiology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physical education, nutritional science, and many other subjects with a basic knowledge of biomechanics

Students and self-motivated learners interested in biological, applied, exercise, sports, and health sciences should not be without this accessible guide to the fundamentals.

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About The Author

Steve McCaw, PhD, is a professor at Illinois State University. Dr. McCaw has taught Biomechanics of Human Movement, Occupational Biomechanics, and Quantitative Biomechanics and has vast experience presenting biomechanics concepts in easy-to-understand formats for use in criminal and civil cases.

Sample Chapters

biomechanics for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

Biomechanics has all kinds of practical applications — from the construction of running shoes to ankle braces to low-back pain to weightlifting. Knowing how the body moves because of the forces applied to the body is key to getting the most out of your athletic performance, and your daily life.How Running Shoes WorkHumans have been running for millions of years.

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Articles from
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The following ten principles of biomechanics provide a solid basis for looking at performance, whether it's coaching, teaching, rehabilitation, teaching a kid in the driveway, or watching a sporting event on TV. You can think of these principles as a list for quick reference. There may only be ten principles covered here, but seeing how they apply will keep you busy for the rest of your movement-analyzing days.
Biomechanics has all kinds of practical applications — from the construction of running shoes to ankle braces to low-back pain to weightlifting. Knowing how the body moves because of the forces applied to the body is key to getting the most out of your athletic performance, and your daily life.How Running Shoes WorkHumans have been running for millions of years.
In biomechanics, a common word problem to be solved involves calculating the magnitude of the muscle force required to hold a weight in the hand. A typical problem is worded something like this: A person holds a 500 Newton (N) dumbbell in his right hand. His forearm and hand are held stationery in the horizontal position with no rotation at the elbow joint.
Solving for the resultant force created when multiple forces act on a body involves several steps. The steps include using the tools of math and trigonometry to work with force vectors. Using a systematic approach makes it easier to arrive at the correct answer. With vector quantities like force, the direction of the vector is as important as the magnitude.
Humans have been running for millions of years. Large forces are produced at the foot–ground interface when running. The force from the ground stops the downward motion and slows the forward motion of the runner during the first half of ground contact, and then propels the runner upward and forward into the next running step during the second half of ground contact.
Astronauts float around the interior of the space shuttle because they’re in a gravity-free environment. This creates a unique problem for the astronauts trying to get work done up there: how to turn around. Because they’re floating, when astronauts needs to turn around, they can’t do it as easily as you can on earth.
Talk in a weight room among experienced lifters may revolve around “doing negatives.” This doesn’t mean they’re going to stop exercising and go for a snack. “Doing negatives” refers to a particular way to perform an exercise. It’s weight room jargon, but it’s also talking biomechanics. Positive work is performed when a force is applied to a body, and the body moves in the direction of the applied force.
Each muscle in the body includes many motor units. A motor unit consists of a group of individual muscle fibers that are activated by a single motor neuron. When stimulated by an action potential transmitted along the motor neuron, all the fibers in a motor unit develop muscle tension (a pulling force) at the same time.
Low-back pain affects many people. It’s often said that a person with low-back pain suffers from a “slipped disk,” but the better term is a bulging disk. Regardless of what it’s called, low-back pain is very debilitating, causing both pain and muscle weakness. The spine is the backbone of the body. It consists of 24 individual bones called vertebrae.
An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries in sport and recreation. Typically, the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are sprained when someone “rolls” his or her ankle. Ligaments are tough connective tissue running from bone to bone to help support a joint. Ligaments consist primarily of the fibers elastin and collagen, aligned to provide support and flexibility to the joint.
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