Introduction to Biomechanics of Human Movement

Abstract

Most people are extremely skilled in many everyday movements like standing, walking, or climbing stairs. By the time children are two, they are skilled walkers with little instruction from parents aside from emotional encouragement. Unfortunately, modern living does not require enough movement to prevent several chronic diseases associated with low physical activity (USD-HHS, 1996). Fortunately, many human movement professions help people to participate in beneficial physical activities. Physical Educators, coaches, athletic trainers, strength & conditioning coaches, personal trainers, and physical therapists all help people reap the benefits of physical activity. These human movement professions rely on undergraduate training in kinesiology, and typically require coursework in biomechanics. Kinesiology is the term referring to the whole scholarly area of human movement study, while biomechanics is the study of motion and its causes in living things. Biomechanics provides key information on the most effective and safest movement patterns, equipment, and relevant exercises to improve human movement. In a sense, kinesiology professionals solve human movement problems every day, and one of their most important tools is biomechanics. This chapter outlines the field of biomechanics, why biomechanics is such an important area to the kinesiology professional, and where biomechanics information can be found.