Introduction to Sports Biomechanics

Part One: Foundation of biomechanics: Introduction. Anatomical principles: Movements of the human musculoskeletal system: introduction; planes of movement; axes of movement; movements in the sagittal plane about the frontal axis; movements in the frontal plane about the sagittal axis; movements in the horizontal plane about the vertical axis; other movements. The skeleton and its bones: Introduction; bone composition and structure; types of bone; the bone surface; bone growth; bone fracture. The joints of the body: introduction; dense connective tissue; cartilage; bursae, tendon shearhs and synovial membrane; formation of joints; classification of synovial joints; joint stability and mobility. Muscles: introduction; muscle structure; naming muscles; structure of classified muscles; types of muscle contraction; group action of muscles. The mechanics of muscular contraction: introduction; a functional model of skeletal muscle; the mechanics of muscular contraction; development of tension in a muscle; muscle force components and the angle of pull. Summary. Exercises. References. Further reading. Movement (kinematic) considerations: Fundamentals of kinematics: introduction; types of motion and appropriate models; introduction to vectors and scalars. Further exploration of linear kinematics: obtaining velocities and accelerations from displacements; interpretations of graphs and of kinematic data; obtaining velocities and displacements from accelerations. Projectile motion: projection parameters;optimum projection conditions. Rotational kinematics: introduction; angular motion vectors; velocities and accelerations caused by rotation; rotations in three-dimensional space (spatial rotations). Summary: exercises; appendix: component addition of vectors; references; further reading. Linear and angular kinetics: Basics of linear kinetics: forces-definition and types; systems of forces and equilibrium; momentum and Newton's law of linear motion; determination of the center of mass of the human body. Friction; types of friction; reducing friction; increasing friction; starting stopping turning; effects of contact materials; pulley friction. The impact of sports objects: the nature of impact; direct impact and the coefficient of restitution; oblique impact; instantaneous centers of rotation and the center of percussion. Fundamentals of rotational kinetics: moment of inertia; laws of rotational motion; angular momentum of a rigid body; angular momentum of a system of rigid bodies; generation of angular momentum; interpretation of planer sports motions. Spatial rotation. Summary. Exercises. References. Further reading. Fluid mechanics and energetics: Moving through a fluid: viscosity; fluid kinematics; basic equations of fluid motion; non-dimensional groups; types of fluid flow. Forces in a fluid: drag forces; the swing of a cricket ball; lift forces. Fundamentals of energetics: forms of energy; conservation of mechanical energy; imp