Biomechanics II

Abstract

The human body as a mechanical system. The muscle as an engine. Load analysis. Optimization of movements. Plasticity of muscle tissue.Mechanical properties of bone, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments and its biological response (plasticity) on mechanical load.

Objective

The first goal of this lecture is to enable the students to understand muscular function to work like a linear motor and the passive part of the musculo-skeletal system to be analyzed according to the laws of mechanics. The second goal of this lecture is to enable the students to know the plasticity behavior of biological materials and to correctly apply that material response as an answer to load in the analysis of interventions.

Content

The content of Biomechanics II (part I) is focused on the mechanical and plasticity properties of biological tissues. The main topic is the mechanical properties of the active musculo-skeletal system with the following chapters: The musculo-skeletal system as a mechanical system, the muscle as a motor, principles of load analysis (=load at the ankle and knee joint during gait) optimization of movements (general considerations with respect to optimized movements including the muscle as a motor), as well as plasticity of muscles (remodelling properties of muscles due to interventions such as immobilization, training, rehabilitation, electrical stimulation, staying in µ-gravity). The content of Biomechanics II (part II) is focused on the mechanical and plasticity properties of biological tissues. The main topic is the passive structures of the human musculo-skeletal system, specially bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, regarded as deformable bodies (continuum mechanics). Discussed are the biological answers (plasticity) on mechanical load (e.g. training, spinal cord injuries, µ-gravity) on the various tissues.

Resources