BIO00324 - Applied Biomechanics (2015)

Unit aim

Introduces students to qualitative and quantitative methods for analysing human movement. There will be a strong emphasis on learning practical skills for the analysis of human movement including ethical aspects of research with humans. Students will apply the principles of biomechanics in an analysis and reporting of selected human movements including gait.

Unit content

Topic 1:     Data sampling and filtering, methods of biomechanical analysis;

Topic 2:     Temporal, kinematics and kinetic profiles fundamental to clinical gait analysis;

Topic 3:     Ethical issues related to biomechanical research;

Topic 4:     Kinematic analysis including development of the research question, preparation of an informed consent form, data collection, analysis and report including a comparison of the results with the literature;

Topic 5:     Dynamics calculations;

Topic 6:     Factors which affect a muscle’s ability to produce tension such as stretch shortening cycle, muscle weakness, fatigue and/or neurological disorders and to explain the implications of the factors on tension production and biomechanics during motion, including gait;

Topic 7:     Measuring muscle activation and understanding patterns of muscle action in gait;

Topic 8:     Sports biomechanics.

Topic 9:     Occupational biomechanics

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

Prescribed texts