What is Biomechanics?
What is Biomechanics?
Biomechanics is the study of forces and motion in biological systems. Biomechanics involves analysis and interpretation of causes and effects of forces in the human body and for this reason, it is very important in sports, exercise and rehabilitation. In sports biomechanists try to make the actions as good as possible without getting injury, delivering the best performance.
Historically, the first known book on biomechanics was written by Aristotle, who is considered the father of biology. His work “De Motu Animalium” means “On the movement of animals” and describes about motion in animals. Aristotle not only considered animal bodies as mechanical systems, but also pursued questions like differences between imagining performing an action and actually doing it.
Biomechanics make use of many different disciplines like thermodynamics, continuum mechanics, fluid mechanics and solid mechanics. Our body contains both fluids and solids that are bound together by thermodynamic phenomenon. For this reason, principles of fluid and solid mechanics and thermodynamics can be applied to analyze and predict its behavior.
Mathematical principles also play an important role in this field. Mathematical techniques can be used to analyze and predict biomechanical behavior. Some mathematical tools that find application in biomechanics include linear algebra, differential equations, vector and tensor calculus and computational methods like finite element method.
Biomechanics covers a very wide field of study ranging from the microscopic inner working of the various components of cells to the study of circulation, muscles and bones. As our understanding of biomechanical principles advances, we will be able to develop better treatments to diseases that we are unable to cure now.
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