Table of Contents

Introduction: Why Study Biomechanics?-What Is Biomechanics? -What Are the Goals of Exercise and Sport Biomechanics?-The History of Sport Biomechanics-The Organization of Mechanics-Basic Dimensions Used in Mechanics-Summary Part I: External Biomechanics: External Forces and Their Effects on the Body and Its MovementChapter 1. Forces: Maintaining Equilibrium or Changing Motion-What Are Forces? -Classifying Forces-Friction -Addition of Forces: Force Composition -Resolution of Forces -Static Equilibrium -Summary Chapter 2. Linear Kinematics: Describing Objects in Linear Motion-Linear Kinematics -Uniform Acceleration and Projectile Motion -Summary Chapter 3. Linear Kinetics: Explaining the Causes of Linear Motion-Newton's First Law of Motion: Law of Inertia-Conservation of Momentum -Newton's Second Law of Motion: Law of Acceleration -Impulse and Momentum -Newton's Third Law of Motion: Law of Action-Reaction -Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation -Summary Chapter 4. Work, Power, and Energy: Explaining the Causes of Motion Without Newton-Work -Energy -The Work-Energy Relationship -Power -Summary Chapter 5. Torques and Moments of Force: Maintaining Equilibrium or Changing Angular Motion-What Are Torques? -Forces and Torques in Equilibrium -What Is Center of Gravity? -Summary Chapter 6. Angular Kinematics: Describing Objects in Angular Motion-Angular Position and Displacement -Angular and Linear Displacement -Angular Velocity -Angular and Linear Velocity -Angular Acceleration -Angular and Linear Acceleration -Anatomical System for Describing Limb Movements -Summary Chapter 7. Angular Kinetics: Explaining the Causes of Angular Motion-Angular Inertia -Angular Momentum -Angular Interpretation of Newton's First Law of Motion -Angular Interpretation of Newton's Second Law of Motion -Angular Impulse and Angular Momentum -Angular Interpretation of Newton's Third Law of Motion -Summary Chapter 8. Fluid Mechanics: The Effects of Water and Air-Buoyant Force: Force Due to Immersion -Dynamic Fluid Force: Force Due to Relative Motion -Summary Part II: Internal Biomechanics: Internal Forces and Their Effectson the Body and Its MovementChapter 9. Mechanics of Biological Materials: Stresses and Strains on the Body-Stress-Strain -Mechanical Properties of Materials: The Stress-Strain Relationship -Mechanical Properties of the Musculoskeletal System -Summary Chapter 10. The Skeletal System: The Rigid Framework of the Body-Bones -Joints -Summary Chapter 11. The Muscular System: The Motors of the Body-The Structure of Skeletal Muscle -Muscle Action -Muscle Contraction Force -Summary Chapter 12. The Nervous System: Control of the Musculoskeletal System-The Nervous System and the Neuron -The Motor Unit -Receptors and Reflexes -SummaryPart III: Applying Biomechanical PrinciplesChapter 13. Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Improve Technique-Types of Biomechanical Analysis -Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Improve Technique -Example Analyses -SummaryChapter 14. Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Improve Training-Biomechanics and Training -Qualitative Anatomical Analysis Method -Example Analyses -Summary Chapter 15. Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Understand Injury Development (Steven T. McCaw)-Mechanical Stress and Injury -Tissue Response to Stress -Mechanism of Overuse Injury -Individual Differences in Tissue Threshold -Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Injury -Running -SummaryChapter 16. Technology in Biomechanics-Quantitative Biomechanical Analysis -Measurement Issues -Tools for Measuring Biomechanical Variables -Summary

About the Author

Peter M. McGinnis, PhD taught biomechanics for 20 years and is a biomechanist for the USA Track and Field pole vault team.