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1º Semestre

Biologia da Actividade Física

6.0

António Prieto Veloso

1. To apply the basic principles of classical mechanics in order to improve sports performance and/or to prevent sports injuries.
2. To describe the different mechanical properties of the biological tissues and their relationship with sports performance and/or injury prevention.
3. To identify the different experimental measurement techniques used in biomechanics.
4. To interpret and discuss biomechanical studies and 3D motion capture data collected during the laboratory classes.

1 – The description of linear and angular motion: kinematics.
a)    Linear and angular parameters: position, velocity and acceleration.
b)    Rigid segments’ model in 3D: local coordinate system definition.
c)    Experimental techniques to measure kinematic parameters: 3D motion analysis.
2 – Explaining the causes of linear and angular motion: kinetics.
a)    Newton’s laws for linear and angular motion.
b)    The movement of the center of mass: impulse-momentum relationship and work-energy principle.
d)    Joint moments and inverse dynamics.
e)    Angular work, energy and power: muscle action and energy transfer.
3 – Tissue mechanics and musculoskeletal modeling.
a)    Stress-strain relationship for different tissues.
b)    Muscle mechanical properties.
c)    Estimating muscle force and activation: an introduction to musculoskeletal modeling.

To be approved in this course, the student has to score higher than 9.5 points in 20. The assessment can be done in two ways:
1. Continuous assessment
This assessment requires the student to be present in at least in 2/3 of the laboratorial classes.
The final grade includes: (1) a written report (50%); (2) a written test (50%). The minimal score of each test has to be higher than 9.5 points in 20.
2. Final exam
The final grade is composed by of the grade of a written exam (70%) and the grade of an oral exam (30%). The minimal score of each exam has to be higher than 9.5 points in 20.

Hay, J.G. (1973) The biomechanics of sports techniques. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Nigg, B.; Herzog, W. (1995) Biomechanics of the musculo-skeletal system. Chichester: Wiley.