INTRODUCTION TO BIOMECHANICS (BASIC DEFINITIONS) MUST KNOW
Definitions
- Bio mechanics – application of the principles of mechanics / physics to biological organisms
- muscle action vs. function
- action – motions produced by a muscle’s shortening; described in reference to axes and planes of body
- – determined by architecture of joint and position of muscle around it
- – pure mechanics which can be inferred
- function – how the organism chooses to use a muscle
- – can involve positive, negative or non- work (see below)
- action – motions produced by a muscle’s shortening; described in reference to axes and planes of body
- agonists (Gr., contestant)– muscles with an identical action; usually restricted to single axis or plane of reference