Biomechanics

By
Eng. Kamal Naji

University of Science and

Technology
Biomedical Engineering 2nd Level
2023-2024
 Agenda

Welcome
Introduction to the Course
Course Outlines
Introduction Biomechanics
History of Mechanics
Review of principles of Mechanics
Scope of Biomechanics

Eng. Kamal Naji

 Welcome

Eng. Kamal Naji , M.sc

Biomedical Engineering

Contacts info :
Email : [email protected]
 Introduction to the Course

The aim of this course to expose

the students to the principles and
applications of biomechanics.
 Course Outlines

Topics
Introduction to Biomechanics.
Musculoskeletal Statics.
Mechanics of Hard Tissues
Mechanics of Soft Tissues.
Static Equilibrium
Mechanics of Cardiovascular System.
Fluid Mechanics.
 Introduction Biomechanics
MECHANICS = FORCES & EFFECTS
BIOMECHANICS: FORCES & EFFECTS in (BIO = LIVING)

Definition
The study of forces acting on and generated within a
body and the effects of these forces on the tissues,
fluid, or materials used for the diagnosis, treatment, or
research purposes.

Biomechanics is a large field that combines physics,

calculus, anatomy, and physiology for the study of
human movement.
Mechanics / Biomechanics
Mechanics/
Biomechani
cs

Rigid Deformable
Fluid
Body Body

Dynamic
Statics Elasticity Liquids
s

Kinemati
Plasticity Gases
cs

Viscoelastic
kinetics
ity
 History of Biomechanics
650 B.C
Histories of sciences usually begin with the
ancient Greeks.
Knowledge and myth were separated
developing what we would call today ‘‘true
scientific inquiry’’.
Observation to develop theories .
 History of Biomechanics
Aristotle (384-322 B.C)
 Father of Kinesiology
His book "About the movement of Animals.
 History of Biomechanics

Archimedes (287-212 B.C)

He claimed that he would be able to move
the Earth if he only had a place to stand in
order to do so.
He used a close approximation for to
measure volumes and areas of solids.
He established statics and hydrostatics.
 History of Biomechanics
Galen (131-201 A.D)
First "sport physician" and "team doctor" in
history "Father of Sports Medicine".
"On the function of the parts" - first text on
physiology.
 Distinguished between skeletal muscles
and muscle parts, such as the heart and the
stomach.
 History of Biomechanics
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
He focused on experimentation (Telescope)
Mechanical aspects of bone structure and
allometry
Provided Foundation for Newton's 3 laws
 Theory of uniform motion projectiles,
inclined plane, and he defined momentum.
 History of Biomechanics

Rene Descartes
Cartesian Coordinate System.
One of the first to use a mathematical
approach to analyzing mechanics & applied
it to the human body.
 History of Biomechanics
Giovanni Alfonso Borelli (1608-1679)
Discovered forces required for equilibrium in
various joints of the body before Newton
developed his laws
Determined human's COG (The Center of
Gravity)
Calculated inspiration and expiration volumes
One of the first men to understand that the
levers of the musculoskeletal system magnify
motion rather than force.
 History of Biomechanics
Isaac Newton
Mathematical Principles of Natural
Philosophy
Book I. Science & mechanics 3 Laws
(Inertia, acceleration & action-reaction)
Book II: New scientific philosophies
Descartes & Kepler
Book III Applications of his dynamics Law of
gravitation
 History of Biomechanics

Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782)

Family of mathematicians.
Hydrodynamics.
Bernoulli's principle.
 History of Biomechanics
Kinesiology Era vs. Biomechanics Era
 Kinesiology Era
 Spans the first 6 decades of the 20th Century and
represents the infancy of biomechanics.
 Kinesiology comes from two Greek verbs that
translated literally means ‘’the study of movement.
 Biomechanics Era
 Begins in the 1960's to the present.
 Biomechanics begins to branch away from
Kinesiology and become its own discipline.
 Graduate programs begin in universities and
creation of scholarly societies
 Now research and development.
 History of Biomechanics

Biomechanics Era
Research/Instrumentation
 Most important incorporation of the digital computer to
collection and analysis of biomechanical data

 1970's primary focus was instrumentation Cinematography

design of the LoCam 16-mm motion picture camera which
permitted film rates up to 500 frames per second.
 Allowed for accuracy of frame rate and small enough to take
into the field for on-site research.
 Kistler force plate to measure forces.
 3D cinematography more realistic
 Electronic digitizer.
 History of Biomechanics

Biomechanics Era:
Research/Instrumentation
1980's
 Data analysis systems that permit the
automatic tracking of reflective markers placed
on the body
 New systems for measuring pressure
distribution between the foot and shoe have
advanced research in kinetics
 Importance of Biomechanics

The development of the field of biomechanics

has improved our understanding of many things,
including :
 normal and pathological situations.
 mechanics of neuromuscular control.
 mechanics of blood flow in the microcirculation.
 mechanics of air flow in the lung.
 mechanics of growth and form.
Importance of Biomechanics “
cont. “

 contributed to the development of medical

diagnostic and treatment procedures.
 provided the means for designing and
manufacturing medical equipment, devices,
and instruments, assistive technology devices
for people with disabilities, and artificial
replacements and implants.
 suggested the means for improving human
performance in the workplace and in athletic
competition.
 Types of Biomechanics

Biomechanics uses the principles of mechanics

in the analysis of human movement to answer
questions such as:
 How can human performance be enhanced?
 How can injuries be prevented?
 How can rehabilitation from injury be
expedited?
Types of Biomechanics “ cont.
“

Orthopedic
 Growth, Damage, and Healing of Bones, Joints.
Spine, Cartilage, Tendons, Ligaments….
 Artificial limbs, joints, and orthoses to improve
functional movement capacity.
 Gait and Falls
Types of Biomechanics “ cont.
“

Occupational : Ergonomics and human factors

reduction of workplace injuries. (Lower Back
Pain)
Cardiovascular : Cardiac assist devices, blood
flow.
Rehabilitation : Assistive technology.
Nature: Plants, Animals.
 Basic Terms

Mechanics: is a branch of physics that is

concerned with the motion and deformation of
bodies that are acted on by mechanical
disturbances called forces.
Rigid body: is one that cannot be deformed.
 Statics: is the study of forces on rigid bodies at
rest or moving with a constant velocity. (The
study of equilibrium or balance)
 Dynamics: deals with bodies in motion. (The
study of disequilibrium)
 Basic Terms “ cont. “

Deformable Body : can change it’s sizes and

shapes.
 Elastic body: is defined as one in which all
deformations are recoverable upon removal of
external forces.
 Plastic body: undergoes permanent
(unrecoverable) deformations.
 Viscosity: is a fluid property which is a
quantitative measure of resistance to flow.
 Basic Terms “ cont. “

Length: is a concept for describing size

quantitatively.
Time: is a concept for ordering the flow of
events.
Mass: is the property of all matter and is the
quantitative measure of inertia.
Inertia: is the resistance to the change in
motion of matter. Inertia can also be defined as
the ability of a body to maintain its state of rest
or uniform motion.
 Basic Terms “ cont. “
Force:
 is the mechanical disturbance or load.
 is the action of one body on another.
 the force applied on a body which causes the
body to move, deform, or both.
Moment or torque: is the quantitative
measure of the rotational, bending or twisting
action of a force applied on a body.
 Review of Mechanics
In rigid body mechanics we presume that all objects are perfectly rigid. This
means they change neither their form nor their volume when forces act on
them. It simplifies the following mechanical analysis. Parts of human body are
of course not perfectly rigid. Deformations would often make the analysis of
motion too complicated. Fluid mechanics is concerned with mechanics of gases
and liquids.

In biomechanics we mostly make use of rigid body mechanics which is best

applicable for describing the motion of human body and its parts. Since certain
sport events take place in fluid environment, biomechanics also uses
knowledge of fluid mechanics. Repeated little deformations of human body
may cause injuries, therefore we will also partly inquire into mechanical
deformation of human body and its parts.

According to specific approach to the study of objects motion and their

equilibrium, mechanics is divided into statics and dynamics. Statics studies
objects that are either at rest, or in constant motion, that is a motion with
constant velocity as to its magnitude and direction. Dynamics studies objects
with acceleration. Dynamics is divided into kinematics and kinetics. Kinematics
describes the motion of objects, while kinetics studies forces that cause
changes of motion
Review of principles of Mechanics
Newton's law of motion
The first law
An object at rest stays at rest and an object in
motion stays in motion with the same speed
and in the same direction unless acted upon an
unbalanced force.
 Review of principles of
Mechanics

Newton's law of motion

The second law
The acceleration of an object is dependent upon two
variables - the net force acting upon the object and
the mass of the object. The acceleration of an object
depends directly upon the net force acting upon the
object, and inversely upon the mass of the object. As
the force acting upon an object is increased, the
acceleration of the object is increased. As the mass
of an object is increased, the acceleration of the
object is decreased.
F =m*a
 Review of principles of
Mechanics

Newton's law of motion

The Third law
(For every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction).
The statement means that in every interaction, there
is a pair of forces acting on the two interacting objects.
The size of the forces on the first object equals the size
of the force on the second object. The direction of the
force on the first object is opposite to the direction of
the force on the second object. Forces always come in
pairs - equal and opposite action-reaction force pairs.
F1 =-F2
 Types of motion
Linear Motion: Is the movement of a body along
a straight (rectilinear) or curved (curvilinear)
path with all body parts move in the same
direction at the same speed.
 Speed: the ratio of the distance covered to the time taken.
 Distance: measures a path travelled from start to finish
regardless of direction.
 Displacement: change in position. How far it is from the
initial position to the final position.
 Velocity: the ratio of displacement of change in position to
the time taken.
 Acceleration: refers to a change in velocity in a given
period of time
 Types of motion
Angular Motion: Involves rotation around a central
axis or fixed point
 Angular Distance : the distance covered by a rotating
body is the sum of all of the angular changes the body
undergoes .
 Angular Displacement: is the difference between the
initial and the final angular position at an object .
 Angular Speed: is defined as the angular distance covered
divided by the time taken to complete the motion Angular
Motion: Involves rotation around a central axis or fixed point.
 Angular Velocity: the rate of change of the angular
displacement of body over time .
 Angular Acceleration: is the rate of change of angular
velocity, or how quickly a body changes its angular position.
Thank You