Fundamentals of Biomechanics

Biomechanics divisions

• Kinematics – deals with the motion of bodies and objects

• And

• Kinetics – deals with forces

Kinematics

• Study of motion (simply the change in position of a body or object)– Change of limb position– Change of entire body from one place to another– Or both

Kinematics cont’d• Motion can be– Linear

– Curvilinear

– Angular

Most common type of movement in sports/exercise is however:

• General motion (linear and angular together)• Since at almost all synovial joints one segment

shows some degree of rotation around another– Ex. Running the 100m = linear motion BUT your limbs

are still rotating (angular motion)