This book addresses instruments, methodologies and diagnostic methods
used to evaluate and diagnose human movement, locomotion and physical
status in general.
Starting from historical perspective, the idea of understanding human
locomotion by applying technical measurement devices and incorporating
measurement data into physical representation of gross body movement is
presented and explained, an approach known as inverse dynamics. With
this approach as a kind of umbrella concept, components of measurement
systems including relevant signal and data processing methods are
described. Modern instruments to capture body movement by measuring its
kinematics, kinetics and surface electromyography (sEMG) are thus
described; all systems being used dominantly--if not exclusively--in a
movement analysis laboratory setting.
Focusing mainly on human posture and gait, but including also examples
of movement patterns from selected kinesiological and sports activities,
the book attempts to present essentials of biomechanics and biomedical
engineering approach to this subject matter. It illustrates how data
collected and elaborated by modern engineering technology can complement
traditional expert knowledge of a kinesiologist or a medical doctor. The
book is applicable in the fields of sports, physical activities, as well
as in medical diagnostics and rehabilitation. The examples of this
book's practical application might be in evaluation of efficiency of
human gait, in evaluation of skeletal muscle fatigue in physical
exercise, in biomechanical diagnostics of traumatological conditions
requiring orthopaedic treatment and the like.
This book can also be used in planning and executing research
endeavours, particularly in a clinical context as a reference for
various diagnostics procedures. It presents the lecture notes of a
course carrying the same name within Medical Studies in English at the
University of Zagreb for more than a decade.
