Biomechanics, essentially the application of mechanics to biology, plays a pivotal role in understanding how the body responds to forces and displacements. It encompasses both extrinsic and intrinsic biomechanics, each serving distinct purposes in the realm of human movement and performance.
Extrinsic biomechanics focuses on analysing movements and tasks to determine the most efficient ways to perform them. It is integral to sports, health, fitness, and work-related physical conditioning. Understanding fundamental mechanical principles like levers and equilibrium is crucial before delving into more complex functional movements.
Intrinsic biomechanics delves into how the body mechanically functions during movement or tasks. It significantly influences how the body compensates during functional activities, and understanding intrinsic biomechanics is essential for identifying and addressing movement faults and minimizing injury risks.
Biomechanics finds extensive application in elite sports, where analyzing extrinsic biomechanics can reveal performance inefficiencies like energy leaks or suboptimal power production. However, intrinsic biomechanics provides a deeper understanding, pinpointing specific areas or structures contributing to faulty performance.
Biomechanics offers numerous benefits, including evidence-based assessments, performance feedback, injury risk identification, and tailored exercise prescription. It deepens our understanding of movement and enables bespoke programming to optimize performance and minimize injury risks.
Understanding elements like equilibrium, levers, and turning forces is crucial in biomechanics. Equilibrium pertains to body balance, while levers and turning forces elucidate how forces interact within the body during movement.
Equilibrium is often divided into 2 sections:
A lever is a simple machine that enables work to be done more easily and/or more quickly by applying forces. A lever consists of a straight bar with 3 points:
Point 1. Where there is a fixed fulcrum
Point 2. Where there is a resistance or weight acting upon the lever
Point 3. Where the force or power is applied to the lever.
This can be applied to the body when considering the bones as the lever, the joint as a fulcrum or pivot point and the muscles contracting to produce the force.
The field of biomechanics offers diverse career opportunities, ranging from biomechanics coaching and training to research and engineering. Various qualifications, from university degrees to specialized diplomas and workshops, cater to different interests and educational backgrounds.
Biomechanics serves as a scientific foundation for understanding human movement, enhancing sports performance, and minimizing injury risks. Its evidence-based approach and multidisciplinary applications make it indispensable in various fields, from sports science to healthcare and beyond.