Biomechanic

Biomechanics - Kinesiology
Why biomechanics?
How does biomechanics What is the difference
fit into kinesiology? between
biomechanics and
kinesiology?
How do biomechanics,
kinesiology and
exercise physiology
complement one
another?
Mechanics
All motion is subject to
laws and principles
of force and motion
F = ma
Fundamental
quantities: Mass (m),
Length (l), Time (t)
(also consider electric charge
& temperature)
Force = m (l x t-2)
Why study mechanics?
Biomechanics
The study of mechanics
applied to living things
Statics: all force acting on a
body are balanced
Equilibrium (F1=F2)
Dynamics: deals with
unbalanced forces
 (F1 ≠ F2) -> Δ acceleration
Kinematics and Kinetics
Kinematics: geometry of motion
 Describe time, displacement, velocity, & acceleration
 Linear -motion in straight line; Angular - rotating
Kinetics: forces that produce or change motion

 Linear – causes of linear motion; Angular – causes of angular
motion
Laws of Motion
The Law of Inertia:
Acceleration requires Force
Law of Acceleration:
 From: F = ma
 Derive: a = F/m
Equal and opposite:

F = -F (equal, opposite,
collinear)
Angular Displacement
 The skeleton is a
system of levers that
rotate about fixed
points when force is
applied.
 Particles near axis
have displacement less
than those farther
away.
 Degrees:
Used most frequently
in measuring angular
displacement.
Angular Velocity
C traveled farther
than A or B
C moved a greater
linear velocity than A
or B
All three have the
same angular
velocity, but linear
velocity of the circular
motion is proportional
to the length of the
lever
Analytical Tool: Vector
analysis
In biomechanics - Vector’s typically represent a
Force and depicts its magnitude, direction, and
point of application (note – can present
quantities derived from Force (i.e. velocity)
Most simply represented as an arrow
Length is proportional to magnitude
Direction determined by its direction
Point of application considered conceptually
Scalar vs Vector Quantities
Scalar: magnitude alone
Described by magnitude (Size or amount)
Ex. Speed of 8 km/hr
Vector: magnitude and direction (minimally)

Described by magnitude and direction
Ex. Velocity of 8 km/hr heading northwest
Vector Quantities
Equal if magnitude & direction are equal
Which of these vectors are equal?
A. B. C. D. E. F.
Combination of Vectors
Vectors may be combined:
addition, subtraction, or multiplication
New vector called the resultant (R)
Fig 10.2
Vector R can be achieved by different combination

Combination of Vectors
Fig 10.3
What is an example of combining
vectors in biomechanics?
 Every movement you observe is caused by

resultant muscle force vectors – so what of
“abnormal” movements?
Resolution of Vectors
Any vector may be broken down into
component vectors in a coordinate system
(i.e. Cartesian coordinate system)
Components are at right angles to one another
Coordinate system can be local or global
2 vector components – 2 d planes
3 vector components – 3 d space
Resolution of
Vectors
What is the vertical
velocity (A)?
What is the horizontal
velocity (B)?
A & B are components of Fig 10.4
resultant (R)
Location of Vectors in Space
For 2 d (2 vector) planar analysis:

Horizontal line is the x axis
Vertical line is the y axis
Coordinates for a point are represented by
two numbers (x,y) (13,5)
From Vectors to Movement
 Vectors represent muscle force
 Muscle forces act on bony lever systems and create Torque
(also called Moments)
 Torque is an angular (rotary) force and results in angular
movement
 Human movement is the sum of all Torques acting at all
joints
Force Vectors
Force is a vector quantity
Magnitude
Direction
Point of Application
For a weight lifter to lift a 250 N barbell

Lifter must apply a force greater than 250 N,
in an upward direction, through the center of
gravity of the barbell
Point of Application
Point at which force is applied to an
object
Where gravity is concerned, this point is
always through the center of gravity
For muscular force, that point is
assumed to be the muscle’s attachment
to a bony lever
Direction
 Direction of a force is
along its action line
 Direction of muscular
force vector is the
direction of line of pull
of the muscle
 Direction of gravity is
vertically downward
 Gravity is a downward-
directed vector
starting at the center
of gravity of the object
Direction of Muscular
Force Vector
 Muscle angle of pull: the angle between
the line of pull and the portion of
mechanical axis between the point of
application and the joint
Fig 12.1
Angle of Pull
 As seen here, the
patella creates a larger
moment arm (the
perpendicular distance
from the line of action
to the axis of the joint)
 The patella allows this
joint to favor
rotary/angular/
movement force.
 Without it the force
from the quads would
be redirected towards
the joint.
Torque or Moment
 The turning effect of an force
 Equals the product of the force
magnitude and the length of the
moment arm
 Moment arm (later will divide the Fig 13.2
moment arm into the “effort” and
“resistance” arm in certain
situations) is the perpendicular
distance form the line of force to
the axis of rotation
 Torque be modified by changing
either force or moment arm
Length of Moment Arm
Perpendicular distance
from the direction of
force to the axis of
rotation
Fig 13.3
At 450 moment arm is
no longer the length of
the forearm
Can be calculated
using trigonometry
Length of Moment Arm
In the body, weight of a

segment cannot be
altered instantaneously
d
Therefore, torque of a Fig 13.4
segment due to W
gravitational force can
be changed only by
changing the length of
the moment arm d
W
Gluteus Medius
Hamstrings
Summation of Torques
Movement is equal to the sum of
Torques and Forces
Forces that result in balanced
torque do not produce rotary
motion (i.e. a balanced scale);
but the forces are summed
and can produce linear motion
(i.e. a canoe)
Forces that result in an
imbalance of Torque produce
rotary motion (i.e. elbow
flexion)
Objects undergoing Rotary
motion may exert Force that
produces Linear motion (i.e.
push up)
Principle of Torques
 Resultant torques of a force system must be equal to
the sum of the torques of the individual forces of the
system about the same point
 Must consider both magnitude and direction
In Biomechanics - Torques can be named by the
movement
Biceps brachii creates an elbow flexion torque;
Hamstrings create a knee flexion torque
When you know the movement a muscle creates as
an agonist, you know the Torque its Force vector
tends to create at that joint
Force Couple
The effect of parallel forces acting in
opposite direction
Fig 13.6 & 13.7

THE LEVER
A rigid bar that can rotate about a fixed
point when a force is applied to overcome a
resistance
They are used to;
overcome a resistance larger than the
magnitude of the effort applied
increase the speed and range of motion
through which a resistance can be moved
External Levers
Using a small force to overcome a large
resistance
Ex. a crowbar
Using a large ROM to overcome a small
resistance
Ex. Hitting a golf ball
Used to balance a force and a load
Ex. a seesaw
Anatomical Levers
Nearly every bone is a lever
The joint is the fulcrum
Contracting muscles are the force
Do not necessarily resemble bars
Ex. skull, scapula, vertebrae
The resistance point may be difficult to
identify
May be difficult to determine resistance
weight, antagonistic muscles & fasciae
Lever Arms
 Portion of lever between
fulcrum & force points
Effort arm (EA):
 Perpendicular distance
between fulcrum & line of
force of effort
Resistance arm (RA):
 Perpendicular distance
between fulcrum & line of
resistance force
Classification of Levers
Three points on the lever have been identified
1. Fulcrum
2. Effort point
3. Resistance point
 There are three possible arrangements of these point
 That arrangement is the basis for the classification of
levers (based on mechanical advantage due to the
moment arm of the effort or the resistance).
First-Class Levers
R
E A
Fig 13.12
E = Effort
A = Axis or fulcrum
R = Resistance or weight
Second-Class Levers
R
A
E
Fig 13.13
E = Effort
A = Axis or fulcrum
Third-Class Levers
R
A
E
Fig 13.14
E = Effort
A = Axis or fulcrum
The Principle of Levers
Any lever will balance when the product of
the effort and the effort arm equals the
product of the resistance and the
resistance arm (Note this is a balanced
torque system since E x EA = Torque E; R
x RA = Torque R
E x EA = R x RA Fig 13.16
-> no rotation
Selection of Levers
Skill in motor performance depends on the effective
selection and use of levers, both internal and
external
Fig 13.19
Selection of Levers
It is not always desirable to choose the longest

lever arm
Short levers enhance angular velocity, while
sacrificing linear speed and range of motion
Strength (Force) needed to maintain angular
velocity increases as the lever lengthens
Mechanical Advantage of Levers
 Ability to magnify force
 The “output” relative to its “input”
 Ratio of resistance overcome to effort applied
MA = R / E
*MA = Mechanical Advantage
 Since the balanced lever equation is,
R / E = EA / RA
 Then MA = EA / RA (Greater #, greater MA)
 Used for comparisons – which of two or more
possibilities gives the greatest MA? (Example – squat
bar position)

Biomechanic

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Biomechanics - Kinesiology

Kinetics: forces that produce or change motion

Equal and opposite:

Vector: magnitude and direction (minimally)

Vector R can be achieved by different combination

 Every movement you observe is caused by

For 2 d (2 vector) planar analysis:

For a weight lifter to lift a 250 N barbell

In the body, weight of a

Fig 13.6 & 13.7

It is not always desirable to choose the longest

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