Main description:

Research Methods in Biomechanics, Second Edition, demonstrates the range of available research techniques and how to best apply this knowledge to ensure valid data collection. In the highly technical field of biomechanics, research methods are frequently upgraded as the speed and sophistication of software and hardware technologies increase. With this in mind, the second edition includes up-to-date research methods and presents new information detailing advanced analytical tools for investigating human movement.

Expanded into 14 chapters and reorganized into four parts, the improved second edition features more than 100 new pieces of art and illustrations and new chapters introducing the latest techniques and up-and-coming areas of research. Also included is access to biomechanics research software designed by C-Motion, Visual3D Educational Edition, which allows users to explore the full range of modeling capabilities of the professional Visual3D software in sample data files as well as display visualizations for other data sets. Additional enhancements in this edition include the following:

* Special features called From the Scientific Literature highlight the ways in which biomechanical research techniques have been used in both classic and cutting-edge studies.

* An overview, summary, and list of suggested readings in each chapter guide students and researchers through the content and on to further study.

* Sample problems appear in select chapters, and answers are provided at the end of the text.

* Appendixes contain mathematical and technical references and additional examples.

* A glossary provides a reference for terminology associated with human movement studies.

Research Methods in Biomechanics, Second Edition, assists readers in developing a comprehensive understanding of methods for quantifying human movement. Parts I and II of the text examine planar and three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics in research, issues of body segment parameters and forces, and energy, work, and power as they relate to analysis of two- and three-dimensional inverse dynamics. Two of the chapters have been extensively revised to reflect current research practices in biomechanics, in particular the widespread use of Visual3D software. Calculations from these two chapters are now located online with the supplemental software resource, making it easier for readers to grasp the progression of steps in the analysis.

In part III, readers can explore the use of musculoskeletal models in analyzing human movement. This part also discusses electromyography, computer simulation, muscle modeling, and musculoskeletal modeling; it presents new information on MRI and ultrasound use in calculating muscle parameters. Part IV offers a revised chapter on additional analytical procedures, including signal processing techniques. Also included is a new chapter on movement analysis and dynamical systems, which focuses on how to assess and measure coordination and stability in changing movement patterns and the role of movement variability in health and disease. In addition, readers will find discussion of statistical tools useful for identifying the essential characteristics of any human movement.

The second edition of Research Methods in Biomechanics explains the mathematics and data collection systems behind both simple and sophisticated biomechanics. Integrating software and text, Research Methods in Biomechanics, Second Edition, assists both beginning and experienced researchers in developing their methods for analyzing and quantifying human movement.

Contents:

Part I. Kinematics

Chapter 1. Planar Kinematics

D. Gordon E. Robertson and Graham E. Caldwell

Description of Position

Degrees of Freedom

Kinematic Data Collection

Linear Kinematics

Angular Kinematics

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 2. Three-Dimensional Kinematics

Joseph Hamill, W. Scott Selbie, and Thomas M. Kepple

Collection of Three-Dimensional Data

Coordinate Systems and Assumption of Rigid Segments

Transformations between Coordinate Systems

Defining the Segment LCS for the Lower Extremity

Pose Estimation: Tracking the Segment LCS

Joint Angles

Joint Angular Velocity and Angular Acceleration of Cardan Joint Angles

Summary

Suggested Readings

Part II. Kinetics

Chapter 3. Body Segment Parameters

D. Gordon E. Robertson

Methods for Measuring and Estimating Body Segment Parameters

Two-Dimensional (Planar) Computational Methods

Three-Dimensional (Spatial) Computational Methods

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 4. Forces and Their Measurement

Graham E. Caldwell, D. Gordon E. Robertson, and Saunders N. Whittlesey

Force

Newton's Laws

Free-Body Diagrams

Types of Forces

Moment of Force, or Torque

Linear Impulse and Momentum

Angular Impulse and Momentum

Measurement of Force

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 5. Two-Dimensional Inverse Dynamics

Saunders N. Whittlesey and D. Gordon E. Robertson

Planar Motion Analysis

Numerical Formulation

Human Joint Kinetics

Applications

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 6. Energy, Work, and Power

D. Gordon E. Robertson

Energy, Work, and the Laws of Thermodynamics

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Ergometry: Direct Methods

Ergometry: Indirect Methods

Mechanical Efficiency

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 7. Three-Dimensional Kinetics

W. Scott Selbie, Joseph Hamill, and Thomas Kepple

Segments and Link Models

3-D Inverse Dynamics Analysis

Presentation of the Net Moment Data

Joint Power

Interpretation of Net Joint Moments

Sources of Error in Three-Dimensional Calculations

Summary

Suggested Readings

Part III. Muscles, Models, and Movement

Chapter 8. Electromyographic Kinesiology

Gary Kamen

Physiological Origin of the Electromyographic Signal

Recording and Acquiring the Electromyographic Signal

Analyzing and Interpreting the Electromyographic Signal

Applications for Electromyographic Techniques

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 9. Muscle Modeling

Graham E. Caldwell

The Hill Muscle Model

Muscle-Specific Hill Models

Beyond the Hill Model

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 10. Computer Simulation of Human Movement

Saunders N. Whittlesey and Joseph Hamill

Overview: Modeling As a Process

Why Simulate Human Movement?

General Procedure for Simulations

Control Theory

Limitations of Computer Models

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 11. Musculoskeletal Modeling

Brian R. Umberger and Graham E. Caldwell

Musculoskeletal Models

Control Models

Analysis Techniques

Summary

Suggested Readings

Part IV. Further Analytical Procedures

Chapter 12. Signal Processing

Timothy R. Derrick and D. Gordon E. Robertson

Characteristics of a Signal

Fourier Transform

Time-Dependent Fourier Transform

Sampling Theorem

Ensuring Circular Continuity

Smoothing Data

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 13. Dynamical Systems Analysis of Coordination

Richard E.A. van Emmerik, Ross H. Miller, and Joseph Hamill

Movement Coordination

Foundations for Coordination Analysis

Quantifying Coordination: Relative Phase Methods

Quantifying Coordination: Vector Coding

Overview of Coordination Analysis Techniques

Summary

Suggested Readings

Chapter 14. Analysis of Biomechanical Waveform Data

Kevin J. Deluzio, Andrew J. Harrison, Norma Coffey, and Graham E. Caldwell

Biomechanical Waveform Data

Principal Component Analysis

Functional Data Analysis

Comparison of PCA and FDA

Summary

Suggested Readings