Biomechanics of Movement

3 credits · Undergraduate Programs

Introduction to musculoskeletal biomechanics, including experimental and analytical approaches to the analysis of movement, experimental instrumentation and devices, and joint dynamics. Review of linear algebra. Description of physical space, coordinate systems, optical measurement of marker position. Three-dimensional rigid body kinematics, extraction of the kinematical quantities from the experimental data. Three-dimensional rigid body dynamics, determination of segmental inertial properties, determination of the joint forces and moments, measurement of ground reaction forces, theorem of the impulse. Force sharing problem, method of the Lagrange multipliers, optimisation. Elements of muscle and cartilage mechanics, introduction to the analysis of healthy and pathologic gait. Laboratory experiences complement and reinforce the theory. Prerequisite(s): 3 units from Biomedical Engineering 383, Mechanical Engineering 317, Civil Engineering 317; and fourth-year standing or above. Antirequisite(s): Credit for Biomedical Engineering 523 and Mechanical Engineering 523 will not be allowed.