Clinical Biomechanics in Health and Injury

What is the clinical objective in deconstructing the mechanism of injury?

To identify injured tissue(s) by systematically analyzing biomechanical forces and anatomic structures involved.

What is the difference between Kinematics and Kinetics?

Kinematics is the study of motion description without regard to forces, while Kinetics is the study of bodies in motion concerning the forces acting upon them.

What does Newton’s First Law of Motion state?

A body at rest or in uniform motion will remain so unless acted upon by a net external force.

Explain Newton’s Second Law of Motion using the equation F=ma.

A force acting on a mass causes an acceleration proportional to the force applied.

What is Newton’s Third Law of Motion?

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

What is the Center of Mass (COM)?

A point mass that behaves like the distributed mass, used to facilitate mathematical analysis of biomechanical systems.

How does the Moment of Inertia relate to injury risk?

Greater resistance in movement increases the likelihood of injury, especially in taller individuals who have higher moments of inertia.

What is the significance of proper lifting techniques regarding moments of inertia?

Proper lifting techniques help reduce compressive forces on the low back during lifting.

How do moments of force lead to back pain?

They create hyper lordosis in the spine and compress the spinal structures.

What factors affect the Center of Mass in humans?

Body segment distribution, posture, and changes in body position affect the Center of Mass.

Why are athletes, like golfers and tennis players, at a higher risk of back pain?

The repetitive and forceful actions combined with rotational movements during their sport put stress on the lumbar spine.

What are implications of angular velocity and centrifugal force in biomechanics?

They relate to the forces acting on a body during motion, which can impact injury risk.

What constitutes concentric contraction?

A type of muscle contraction where the muscle shortens while generating force.

What constitutes eccentric contraction?

A type of muscle contraction where the muscle lengthens while controlling movement.