304 Unit 1

Biomechanics

Application of mechanical principles to living organisms.

Kinesiology

Study of human movement.

Sports Medicine

Clinical and scientific aspects of sports and exercise.

Occupational Biomechanics

Prevention of work-related injuries and performance improvement.

Kinematics

Study of motion description (sequence and timing).

Kinetics

Study of forces involved in motion.

Statics

Systems with no acceleration (can be stationary).

Dynamics

Systems with acceleration.

Anatomical Reference Position

Standing upright, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

Sagittal Plane

Divides body into left and right, involves flexion and extension.

Frontal Plane

Divides body into front and back, involves hip abduction and adduction.

Transverse Plane

Divides body into top and bottom, involves rotation, pronation, and supination.

Mass

Amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms (kg).

Weight

Gravitational force acting on a body (wt = ma).

Inertia

Resistance to change in motion; higher mass equals higher inertia.

Force

A push or pull acting on a body (F = ma).

Center of Gravity

Point where body weight is equally balanced.

Pressure

Force per unit area (P = F/A).

Stress

Distribution of force within a body (Stress = F/A).

Volume

3D space occupied by a body (V = l × w × h).

Density

Mass per unit volume (Density = Mass/Volume).

Torque

Rotational effect of an eccentric force (T = F × d).

Impulse

Force applied over time (J = F × t).

Compression

Pressing force through the body.

Tension

Stretching force through the body.

Shear

Force parallel to the body (e.g., ACL tear).

Bending

Tension on one side, compression on the other.

Torsion

Twisting force (e.g., snake bite).

Combined Loading

Multiple forces acting together.

Vector

Has both magnitude and direction.

Scalar

Has only magnitude.