Mechanical Analysis Review Guide's for Quiz 1

Define Biomechanics

The application of mechanical principles to the study of biological systems

Why do we want to study biomechanics?

Improve performance, reduce injury risk

When are we concerned with human performance?

Human performance is NOT limited to high achieving athletic competitions, performance occurs during any human activity

Mechanopathology

The mechanics that result in injury - an incorrect landing that leads to an ankle injury

Pathomechanics

The mechanics that are a result of an injury - changing your gait due to an ankle injury

What are the two areas of classical mechanics?

Dynamics and Statics

Dynamics

Interested in changing systems (kinematics and kinetics)

Statics

Interested in unchanging systems

Kinematics

The study of motion without consideration of the cause

Kinetics

The study of the causes of motion

Statics are used frequently in material sciences which includes the following

material properties, response to loads, in a biomechanics setting analyses referred to as “tissue mechanics”

Describe the Multisegment principles

composed of connected segments, requires coordination of segments

Why are biological principles important to biomechanics?

Human bodies are all different and those differences influence how movement works and how forces act on the body

The Hierarchical Model levels

Top level: performance measure/ result

Second level: factors that determine the top level (mechanical correlates)

Third level: factors that determine second level variables

Rules of Hierarchical Model

1. factors should be mechanical quantities (also anatomical factors)

2. each factor should be completely determined by those factors linked in the level below

3. annotate the boxes that you can’t control

Top-down Approach

Whole body level, total limb level, joint level, tissue level

Bottom-up Approach

Tissue level, joint level, total limb level, whole body level

Step 1 of movement analysis four-step approach

Determine the objective of the movement

Step 2 of movement analysis four-step approach

Identify the mechanical correlates of performance

Step 3 of movement analysis four-step approach

Analyze the movement solution and identify faults

Step 4 of movement analysis four-step approach

Determine the cause and conduct an intervention

When identifying mechanical correlates of performance, what should we focus on?

On the performer and what they are trying to do

What is the best way to keep track of the mechanical correlates?

Hierarchal Model

Define Proficiency

How well a person performs a movement and achieves the goal of the task

Discrete Movement

clear beginning and ending points, movement does not repeat (tennis serve)

Serial Movement

distinct beginning and end, but links at least two discrete movements (triple jump)

Cyclic Movement

movement pattern that repeats several times (walking, swimming)

List the phases of a discrete task

1. Preparation

2. Propulsion

3. Braking

List the phases of a cyclic task

1. Propulsion

2. Recovery

Define Critical Elements

Aspects of movements that are necessary for movement performance

Individual constraints

the kinematic and kinetic capacities of each degree of freedom involved in a task (muscular strength)

Environmental constraints

Due to physical surroundings (the playing surface)

Task constraints

Due to the natural of the performance (rules of the sport/skill)

Define how to identify faults

determination of what the person is doing wrong/ or what can be improved

List some criteria that can be used to compare performance to

• exemplary performance or guiding principles

• past performance

• normalized scores/ times

List the 4 guiding principles that are used to assess movement

1. use the stretch-shortening cycle

2. sequencing of movements

3. maximizing the distance/ time over force is applied

4. minimizing external torque