Biomechanics In Sport

Original Editor - Naomi O'Reilly

Top Contributors - Naomi O'Reilly, Wanda van Niekerk, Jacquie Kieck, Kim Jackson, Evan Thomas, Tarina van der Stockt, Lucinda hampton, Jess Bell, Olajumoke Ogunleye and Sehriban Ozmen

Introduction

Biomechanics in Sport incorporates detailed analysis of sport movements in order to minimise the risk of injury and improve sports performance. Sport and Exercise Biomechanics encompasses the area of science concerned with the analysis of the mechanics of human movement. It refers to the description, detailed analysis and assessment of human movement during sport activities. Mechanics is a branch of physics that is concerned with the description of motion/movement and how forces create motion/movement. In other words sport biomechanics is the science of explaining how and why the human body moves in the way that it does. In sport and exercise that definition is often extended to also consider the interaction between the performer and their equipment and environment. Biomechanics is traditionally divided into the areas of kinetics (concerning the analysis of the forces acting on the body) and kinematics (concerning the analysis of the movements of the body) . In terms of this there are skeletal, muscular and neurological considerations we also need to consider when describing biomechanics .

Application

According to Knudson (2007) human movement performance can be enhanced in many ways as effective movement encompasses anatomical factors, neuromuscular skills, physiological capacities and psychological/cognitive abilities. Biomechanics is essentially the science of movement technique and as such tends to be most utilised in sports where technique is a dominant factor rather than physical structure or physiological capacities . The following are of the areas where Biomechanics is applied to either support performance of athletes or solve issues in sport or exercise:

• The identification of optimal technique for enhancing sports performance
• The analysis of body loading to determine the safest method for performing a particular sport or exercise task
• The assessment of muscular recruitment and loading
• The analysis of sport and exercise equipment e.g., shoes, surfaces and racquets.

Biomechanics is utilised to attempt to either enhance performance or reduce the injury risk in the sport and exercise tasks examined.

Lower Limb Biomechanics

As humans ambulation is our main form of movement, that is we walk upright and are very reliant on our legs to move us about. How the foot strikes the ground and the knock on effect this has up the lower limbs to the knee, hips, pelvis and low back in particular has become a subject of much debate and controversy in recent years. 

Lower limb biomechanics refers to a complex interplay between the joints, muscles and nervous system which results in a certain patterning of movement, often referred to as ‘alignment’. Much of the debate centres around what is considered ‘normal’ and what is considered ‘abnormal’ in biomechanical terms as well as the extent to which we should intervene should abnormal findings be found on assessment.

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Foot & Ankle Biomechanics

The foot and ankle form a complex system which consists of 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. It functions as a rigid structure for weight bearing and it can also function as a flexible structure to conform to uneven terrain. The foot and ankle provide various important functions which includes: supporting body weight, providing balance, shock absorption, transferring ground reaction forces, compensating for proximal malalignment, and substituting hand function in individuals with upper extremity amputation/paralysis all which are key when involved with any exercise or sport involving the lower limbs. This page examines in detail the biomechanics of the foot and ankle and its role in locomotion . Go to Page

Q Angle

An understanding of the normal anatomical and biomechanical features of the patellofemoral joint is essential to any evaluation of knee function. The Q angle formed by the vector for the combined pull of the quadriceps femoris muscle and the patellar tendon, is important because of the lateral pull it exerts on the patella .

The direction and magnitude of force produced by the quadriceps muscle has great influence on patellofemoral joint biomechanics. The line of force exerted by the quadriceps is lateral to the joint line mainly due to large cross-sectional area and force potential of the vastus lateralis. Since there exists an association between patellofemoral pathology and excessive lateral tracking of the patella, assessing the overall lateral line of pull of the quadriceps relative to the patella is a meaningful clinical measure. Such a measure is referred to as the Quadriceps angle or Q angle. It was initially described by Brattstrom. Go to Page

Biomechanics of Gait

Sandra J. Shultz describes gait as: “...someone’s manner of ambulation or locomotion, involves the total body. Gait speed determines the contribution of each body segment. Normal walking speed primarily involves the lower extremities, with the arms and trunk providing stability and balance. The faster the speed, the more the body depends on the upper extremities and trunk for propulsion as well as balance and stability. The legs continue to do the most work as the joints produce greater ranges of motion trough greater muscle responses. In the bipedal system the three major joints of the lower body and pelvis work with each other as muscles and momentum move the body forward. The degree to which the body’s center of gravity moves during forward translation defines efficiency. The body’s center moves both side to side and up and down during gait.” Bipedal walking is an important characteristic of humans.This page will present information about the different phases of the gait cycle and important functions of the foot while walking . Go to Page

Upper Limb Biomechanics

Sport Specific Biomechanics

Running Biomechanics

Running is similar to walking in terms of locomotor activity. However, there are key differences. Having the ability to walk does not mean that the individual has the ability to run . There are some differences between the gait and run cycle - the gait cycle is one third longer in time, the ground reaction force is smaller in the gait cycle (so the load is lower), and the velocity is much higher. In running, there is also just one stance phase while in stepping there are two. Shock absorption is also much larger in comparison to walking. This explains why runners have more overload injuries .

Running Requires:

• Greater Balance
• Greater Muscle Strength
• Greater Joint Range of Movement  Go to Page

Cycling Biomechanics

Cycling was initially invented by Baron Carl von Drais in 1817, but not as we know it. This was a machine which intailly had two wheels that were connected by a wooden plank with a rudder device for steering. It involved people running along the ground whilst sitting down; giving them the name of a 'running machine' (in all senses) or a velocipied. This was solely used by the male population at the time of invention. The velocipied then made a huge design development in the 1860's at the Michaux factory in Paris. They added leaver arms to the front wheel which were prepelled by pedals at the feet. This was the first conventional bicycle, and since then and up until the current day the bicyle has made great design and technological advances .
A survey in 2014 estimated that over 43% of the United Kingdom population have or have access to a bike and 8% of the population aged 5 and above cycled 3 or more times a week. With such a large amount of people cycling, whether it be professional, recreational or for commuting this increase the chance of developing an injury, so it is time we understood the biomechanics of cycling . Go to Page

Baseball Pitching Biomechanics

Baseball pitching is one of the most intensely studying athletic motion . Although focus has been more on shoulder, entire body movement is required to perform a baseball pitching. Throwing is also considered one of the fastest human motions performed, and maximum humeral internal rotation velocity reaches about 7000 to 7500o/second . Go to Page

References