INTRODUCTION TO

BIOMECHANICS

DR. ABDUL RASHAD

SENIOR LECTURER
DPT,MPHILL(OPT) ,MPPTA, MMTC (NZ),
MSTC(AUS), SIR(AUS), IASTM(GREECE)
UNITED COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
 Objectives
• Define kinesiology,biomechanics, statics,
dynamics, kinematics and kinetics and explain the
ways in which they are related.
• Describe the scope of scientific inquiry addressed
by biomechanists.
• Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative
approaches for analyzing human movement.
• Explain how to formulate questions for qualitative
analysis of human movement.
• Use the identified eleven steps in solving formal
problems.
BASIC TERMINOLOGY
 Kinesiology
• Kines: Latin ==> “motion”
• logos: “study of”
• Study of Motion.
Kinesiology
Kinesis
Movement or activity of an organism in response to a stimulus
such as light.
[Greek kīnēsis, movement, from kīnein, to move.]
 Kinesiology
 The study of the anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of
body movement, especially in humans.

 The study of the anatomical and mechanical basis of

human movement. Kinesiology includes anatomy,
mechanics, and physiology of muscles and skeleton. There
is considerable overlap between the disciplines of
kinesiology and biomechanics.

 The study of human movement, from the point of view of

both mechanical action and anatomical structure.
 SUBDISCIPLINES OF
KINESIOLOGY

• BIOMECHANICS
• ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
• MOTOR BEHAVIOR SPORTS HISTORY
• ATHLETIC TRAINING
• SPORTS PHILOSOPHY
• SPORTS ART
• SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
1-2
 Movement & Physical Activity
• Movement any change in the position of your
body parts relative to each other.
• If you are performing a physical activity, you are
using movement; but not every movement is a
physical activity – e.g., blinking an eye,
swallowing, contraction of diaphragm.
• Physical activity Voluntary movement
intentionally performed in order to achieve a goal
in sport, exercise, or any other sphere of life
experience.
 Terms

• Biomechanics
• Mechanics
• Statics
• Dynamics
• Kinematics
• Kinetics
• Anthropometric Factors
 Biomechanics
• Bio - life

• Mechanics - study of machines.

OR
Mechanics is the study of the way matter and forces interact with
each other.
OR
Branch of physics that analyzes the actions of the forces on
particles & mechanical system. (matter or material systems).
OR
Mechanics, branch of physics concerned with motion and the forces that tend
to cause it; it includes study of the mechanical properties of matter, such as
density, elasticity, and viscosity. Mechanics may be roughly divided into
statics and dynamics.
 Biomechanics

• Biomechanics - study of living machines.

• Application of mechanical principles in the

study of living organism.

• Study of those forces applied to the human

body and their effects on the body.
 Biomechanics
• “Application of mechanical principles in the study of
living organisms.”
• Describe the science involving the study of biological
systems from a mechanical perspective
• Biomechanists use the tools of mechanics, to study
the anatomical and functional aspects of living
organisms
• Biomechanics uses the principles of mechanics for
solving problems related to the structure and function
of living organism
 Statics

• Branch of mechanics dealing with bodies at rest

and forces in equilibrium

• Statics deals with bodies at rest and is concerned

with such topics as buoyancy, equilibrium, and the
principles of simple machines.

• Statics is a field within mechanics which concerns

itself with forces when no change in momentum
occurs.
 Dynamics

• Branch of mechanics dealing with systems subject

to acceleration.
• Dynamics deals with bodies in motion.
• Dynamics is a field concerned with forces &
matter when a change in momentum does occur.

• Dynamics further divided into:

• Kinematics :description of motion without regard
to its cause.
• Kinetics :explanation of changes in motion as a
result of forces.
 Biomechanics

Kinetics
Kinematics

Qualitative analysis Quantitative analysis Statics Dynamics

Naming and evaluating Counting and measuring Study of body in Study of body in
movement components movement component state of rest state of motion
 Kinematics

• Study of the description of motion,

including considerations of space and time
• Describes motion, including the pattern and
speed of movement, sequencing by the body
segments that often translate to degree of
coordination an individual displays
• Describes the appearance of motion
 Kinematics

• A description of the type, pattern, amount,

& direction of motion or movement ; does
not include the forces producing the motion.

• Kinematics is a study of motion without

regard to the forces present. It is simply a
mathematical way to describe motion.
 Kinematics

• Qualitative
• Quantitative
 Kinetics

• Study of the action of forces associated with

motion. Or the study of forces that cause
motion.

• Example:
Whether the amount of force that muscles
are producing is optimal for the intended
purpose of the movement or not ??
 Kinetics
• The branch of physics that studies the motion of
masses in relation to the forces acting on them.

• A subdivision of dynamics dealing with the study of

the forces causing or tending to cause changing in the
motion of an object.
 Kinetics

• It is used for research purpose.

• Complex & expensive instruments required.
 Anthropometrics
• Related to the dimensions and weights of
body segments
• Anthropometric factors:
– Size
– Shape of the body segment
– Weight
– Circumferences, Girth / diameters
– Skin folds
are important consideration in kinetic analysis
 Sports Medicine

• Clinical and scientific aspects of sports and

exercise
 BRANCHES OF SPORTS
MEDICINE

1-3
Problems Studied by Biomechanists

• Locomotion Patterns:
– biped vs. quadruped
• Energy cost with specific movement:
– what is energetically optimal?
• Transitional Changes:
– In energetics of walking in human children as
their bodies undergo developmental changes in
body proportions and motor skills with growth.
• NASA:
– effects of microgravity on musculoskeletal
– few days in space can elicit reduced bone density,
mineralization and strength, esp. in lower
extremities.
• Osteoporosis:
– 90% of all fractures in men and women are
osteoporosis related after the age of 60.
• Mobility Impairment in Elders:
– increase age related to decreased balance and
increased risk of fall. Studied: factors that help to
avoid future falls, safe landing characteristics,
protective and preventative clothing/flooring
surfaces.
• Clinical Research:
– Gait normalization for children with cerebral
palsy, improved gait for amputees, prosthesis
research
• Occupational Research:
– prevention of work-related injuries and
improvement of work conditions and worker
performance (both physical and mental
preparation)
• Sport Performance Enhancement:
– in equipment and apparel.
– E.g: aerodynamic helmets, clothing, cycle designs.
Suits in swimming, track, skating, and skiing.
• Mechanical Analysis of the Discus Throw:
– Major mechanical factors for flight of the discus:
• Speed
• Projection angle
• Height above the ground
• Angle of attack
– Analysis to enhance the positive and reduce the
negative for best performance results.
• Safety and Injury Reduction:
– Ex: Sport shoe design and specific to sport,
conditions etc.
 Problem-Solving Approach

• Analysis of human movement can be either

– Quantitative

– Qualitative
 Problem-Solving Approach

Quantitative
 The most common method used in clinical
settings.

 Requires only a small amount of equipment &

minimal amount of time.

 Primary variable examined in quantitative analysis

is Displacement, which includes a description of
patterns of movement, deviation from normal.
 Problem-Solving Approach

Qualitative
 It is used to obtain information on Spatial & Temporal
variable, as well as motion patterns.
 Technique & equipment required from simple to complex.
 Time requirements also vary.
 e.g Accelerometer, Electro-goniometer.

Spatial dimension: length, width, height.

1-5
For a Qualitative or Quantitative
Analysis

Answering a
Question/Problem of
Studying or Interest
Analyzing

Identification
 Solving Quantitative Problems
General Question Examples
• Is the movement being performed with
adequate (or optimal) force?
• Is the movement being performed through
an appropriate range of motion?
• Is the sequencing of body movements
appropriate (or optimal) for execution of the
skill?
 Solving Quantitative Problems
General Question Examples

• Is there excessive pronation taking place

during the stance phase of gait?
• Is release of the ball taking place at the
instant of full elbow extension?
 Formal Problems:
3 components

– 1) a set of given information

– 2) a particular goal, answer, or desired finding

– 3) a set of operations or processes that can be

used to arrive at the answer from the given
information
 Solving Formal Quantitative
Problems
• 1) Read the problem carefully.
• 2) List the given information.
• 3) List the desired (unknown) information for
which you are to solve.
• 4) Draw a diagram of the problem situation
showing the known and unknown information.
• 5) Write down formulas that may be of use.
• 6) Identify the formula to use.
 Solving Formal Quantitative
Problems
• 7) If necessary, reread the problem statement to
determine whether any additional needed
information can be inferred

• 8) Carefully substitute the given information into

the formula.

• 9) Solve the equation to identify the unknown

variable (the desired information).
 Solving Formal Quantitative
Problems
• 10) Check that the answer is both
reasonable and complete

• 11) Clearly box the answer.

• *Note: Be sure to provide the correct unit of

measurement with the answer.
 Problem 1

• A baseball player hits a triple to deep left field. As

he approaching third base, he notices that the
incoming throw to the catcher is wild and he
decides to run for home plate. The catcher
retrieves the ball 10m from the plate and runs back
toward the plate at a speed of 5 m/s. As the catcher
starts running, the base runner, who is traveling at
a speed of 9m/s, is 15m from the plate. Given that
time=distance/ speed, who will reach the plate
first?
 Solution

• STEP 1 :Read the problem carefully.

• STEP 2: Write down the given information.
– Base runner’s speed= 9m/s
– Catcher’s speed= 5m/s
– Distance of base runner from plate=15m
– Distance of catcher from plate=10m
 Why Study Biomechanics?

• To address problems related to human

health and performance.
• Useful for
– Physical Education Teachers
– Physical Therapists
– Physicians
– Coaches
– Personal Trainers
– Exercise Instructors
WHY STUDY BIOMECHANICS

– Biomechanics provides fundamental

understanding of mechanical principle
- and how they can be applied in
analysing movements of human body.
 Why study biomechanics?

• Traditional teaching and coaching methods

tell you what techniques to teach or coach.
 Why study biomechanics?

• Biomechanics tells you why those

techniques are best to teach or coach.

• It can also tell you why some teaching and

coaching techniques don’t work and need to
be discontinued.
 Why study biomechanics?
• PT students will also benefit from learning
biomechanics because it will help in
determining the cause of injury, aid in
preventing future injury, and guide in
determining best methods for rehabilitation.
 Why study biomechanics?
• Exercise science students will learn the best
techniques for improving fitness and
enhancing exercise performance.
 Why study biomechanics?

• We study biomechanics to understand how

people move.
• This information may be used to enhance
performance by improving technique.
• It may also be used to lower the risk for
injury.
 Why study biomechanics?
• Enhance skill performance
– Technique improvement
• Improve current technique
• Develop new technique (Fosbury Flop, swim hand
recovery, skating , ski jumping)
– Equipment improvement
• Shoes and apparel
• Implements
• Protection devices
– Training improvement
 Why study biomechanics?
• Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
– Techniques to reduce injury
– Equipment designs to reduce injury
 Why study Biomechanics?
• To understand how living bodies can move.
 Why study Biomechanics?
• To understand how people can move.
 Why study Biomechanics?
– To enhance skill performance
– elite athletes
• Physical challenges
– ACL deficit
– CP gait
– Wheelchair
– Age-related disease
 Why study Biomechanics?
• To understand how people can move.
– To lower the risk for injury
• Exercise equipment & technique
• shoes & surfaces
• braces & orthotics
• Automobiles
Biomechanics and Safety
 Biomechanics
Professional Societies
Research in Biomechanics:
Journals & Magazines
Biomechanics Textbooks
 Biomechanics
Lab at ISU

Research

Not to know is bad.

Not to wish to know
is worse.
References

• Basic Biomechanics, 6th edition By Susan

J. Hall, Ph.D.
 65

• Infectious
AROM or &inflammatory
PROM
process in a joint.
Precautions
• Patient is on medication for pain
or muscle relaxation.
• Osteoporosis or fragile bones is a
factor.
• In assessing hyper mobile or
subluxed joints.
• Painful conditions.
• Haematoma in the region,