What is Biomechanics?

Every human motion is comprised of a complex series of actions, triggered by various nerve impulses, and executed by specific sets of muscles.  Each activity requires a combination of precise action, strength, and superb balance.  Restrictions within soft tissues can affect one or more of these factors.

Motion is not an isolated event that occurs in only one direction.  Body movement is a complex event involving a contracting muscle that is resisted or counteracted by another muscle.  For example:  The triceps brachii extends the forearm at the elbow while the biceps brachii, it's antagonist, (or opposite), flexes the elbow.  These structures work together to create motion and to stabilize the body in all three directional planes.

A good understanding of the biomechanics of human motion is critical to the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of patients for the purposes of enhancing sports performance, as well as correcting common movements causing pain in non-athletes.

Practitioners must first understand each NORMAL motion or action, before they can identify dysfunctions and restrictions to that motion, that can reduce athletic performance, or impair daily function.

What is Biomechanical Motion Analysis?

Biomechanical Motion Analysis is the art and science of observing and identifying biomechanical dysfunctions by analyzing the gait, movement, and performance of the various parts of the human body.  With ARTâ this process also includes the identification of appropriate treatment protocols, the execution of these protocols, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of these treatments.

The process of Biomechanical Motion Analysis requires:

• The ability to analyze motion.
  
• An understanding of the normal motion of a joint.  A joint is a bodily component used to connect the bones of the skeleton.  Apart from connectivity, joints also provide mobility and stability.  Joints can perform several types of motion, either singularly or in combination: uniaxial joint motion, bi-axial joint motion, and multi-axial joint motion, or soft tissue structure.
• An understanding of the function of each muscle, joint, nerve, or soft tissue in the execution of the motion.
• An understanding of the relationship between a motion and the soft tissues that execute the motion.
• The ability to identify abnormal motion.

copyright © 2005 Dr. Tim Flora