Introduction. Why Study Biomechanics?
What Is Biomechanics?
What Are the Goals of Sport and Exercise Biomechanics?
The History of Sport Biomechanics
The Organization of Mechanics
Basic Dimensions and Units of Measurement Used in Mechanics
Summary
Part I. External Biomechanics: External Forces and Their Effects
on the Body and Its Movement
Chapter 1. Forces: Maintaining Equilibrium or Changing
Motion
What Are Forces?
Classifying Forces
Friction
Addition of Forces: Force Composition
Resolution of Forces
Static Equilibrium
Summary
Chapter 2. Linear Kinematics: Describing Objects in Linear
Motion
Motion
Linear Kinematics
Uniform Acceleration and Projectile Motion
Summary
Chapter 3. Linear Kinetics: Explaining the Causes of Linear
Motion
Newton’s First Law of Motion: Law of Inertia
Conservation of Momentum
Newton’s Second Law of Motion: Law of Acceleration
Impulse and Momentum
Newton’s Third Law of Motion: Law of Action-Reaction
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
Summary
Chapter 4. Work, Power, and Energy: Explaining the Causes of
Motion Without Newton
Work
Energy
The Work–Energy Principle
Power
Summary
Chapter 5. Torques and Moments of Force: Maintaining
Equilibrium or Changing Angular Motion
What Are Torques?
Forces and Torques in Equilibrium
What Is Center of Gravity?
Summary
Chapter 6. Angular Kinematics: Describing Objects in Angular
Motion
Angular Position and Displacement
Angular and Linear Displacement
Angular Velocity
Angular and Linear Velocity
Angular Acceleration
Angular and Linear Acceleration
Anatomical System for Describing Limb Movements
Summary
Chapter 7. Angular Kinetics: Explaining the Causes of
Angular Motion
Angular Inertia
Angular Momentum
Angular Interpretation of Newton’s First Law of Motion
Angular Interpretation of Newton’s Second Law of Motion
Angular Impulse and Angular Momentum
Angular Interpretation of Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Summary
Chapter 8. Fluid Mechanics: The Effects of Water and Air
Buoyant Force: Force Due to Immersion
Dynamic Fluid Force: Force Due to Relative Motion
Summary
Part II. Internal Biomechanics: Internal Forces and Their
Effects on the Body and Its Movement
Chapter 9. Mechanics of Biological Materials: Stresses and
Strains on the Body
Stress
Strain
Mechanical Properties of Materials: The Stress–Strain
Relationship
Mechanical Properties of the Musculoskeletal System
Summary
Chapter 10. The Skeletal System: The Rigid Framework of the
Body
Bones
Joints
Summary
Chapter 11. The Muscular System: The Motors of the Body
The Structure of Skeletal Muscle
Muscle Action
Muscle Contraction Force
Summary
Chapter 12. The Nervous System: Control of the
Musculoskeletal System
The Nervous System and the Neuron
The Motor Unit
Receptors and Reflexes
Summary
Part III. Applying Biomechanical Principles
Chapter 13. Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Improve
Technique
Types of Biomechanical Analysis
Steps of a Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis
Sample Analyses
Summary
Chapter 14. Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Improve
Training
Biomechanics and Training
Qualitative Anatomical Analysis Method
Sample Analyses
Summary
Chapter 15. Qualitative Biomechanical Analysis to Understand
Injury Development
Mechanical Stress and Injury
Tissue Response to Stress
Mechanism of Overuse Injury
Individual Differences in Tissue Threshold
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Injury
Sample Analysis: Overuse Injuries in Running
Summary
Chapter 16. Technology in Biomechanics
Quantitative Biomechanical Analysis
Measurement Issues
Tools for Measuring Biomechanical Variables
Summary
Peter M. McGinnis, PhD, is a distinguished service professor
in the kinesiology department at the State University of New York
College at Cortland, where he has taught and coached pole vaulters
since 1990. Before 1990, McGinnis was an assistant professor in the
department of kinesiology at the University of Northern Colorado.
During that time, he also served as a sport biomechanist in the
Sports Science Division of the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado
Springs, where he conducted applied sport biomechanics research,
tested athletes, taught biomechanics courses to coaches, and
developed educational materials for coaches.
He has authored numerous articles and technical reports about the
biomechanics of pole vaulting and has been a reviewer for Sports
Biomechanics, Journal of Applied Biomechanics, Research Quarterly
for Exercise and Sport, and Journal of Sports Sciences. McGinnis is
a member of numerous professional organizations, including the
American College of Sports Medicine, American Society of
Biomechanics, International Society of Biomechanics, and ASTM
International. He served as chair of the ASTM International pole
vault equipment subcommittee for 12 years. He is also a member of
USA Track and Field’s Sports Medicine and Science Committee,
serving as the biomechanist for the pole vault. In 2012 USA Track
and Field honored him with the Dr. C. Harmon Brown Sports Medicine
and Science Award.
McGinnis received a PhD in physical education from the University
of Illinois in 1984 and a BS in engineering from Swarthmore College
in 1976. He was inducted into the Swarthmore College Garnet
Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
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