Biomechanics of the Human Muscles Movement Analysis

When people move, their body utilizes muscle, tendons, nerves and bones. These same devices are used in pathology and physical therapy to determine and treat a condition. Knowing how these systems work together to create a motion in a person can open up many options in the field of medicine, robotics and technology.

Purpose

• The pure study of biomechanics of the human muscles movement is to observe and report on how the muscles work with the other systems in the body to create movement. The analysis of this information can then be used by various other fields of medicine to determine a pathology and assign a treatment to that pathology. Fields of technology, especially those fields working on energy, can use the analysis of this information to find ways of creating energy from movement. Robotic fields can use the information to find better ways to develop machinery and android-type machines that can better mimic human motion.

Description

• Biomechanics of the human muscles is the calculation of forces applied to the muscles, joints and bones while completing a task. This can include the heat, the pressure and the tension of the muscles, joints and tendons. This is done through the monitoring of muscles in the concerned site and muscles surrounding this site. In some cases, the monitoring of all muscles is necessary.

Method

• Biomechanics of the human muscle movements can be determined through the use of sensors and a specialized computer. These sensors detect movement in the muscles and allow the computer to follow the muscle movement completely. Other tests that can be done include heat sensing tests, where the temperature of the the muscle is monitored to establish an output of energy. Electrodes can be used to monitor the levels of electricity put out by the muscles in movement as well.

Advances

• Biomechanics of muscles used to be determined through vivisection, or the dissection of a living animal, or through the dissection of a dead animal. This was rarely done with humans due to the ethical questions of using a human as an experiment. This was especially true in Renaissance and early American times when sciences would purchase cadavers from shady sources because the use of cadavers was limited.

  With the introduction of computer animation and analysis, the use of living creatures and people can now be done without the ethical issues since the individual is left unharmed. While there are some cases in which dissection is still used, especially in the medical training fields, this use is in decline.

Application

• While there are many possible future uses of biomechanics of the human muscles movement analysis information, there are some current applications that one must be aware of. One such application is the preliminary diagnosis of several medical conditions, including strokes and cerebral palsy. This practice and information can pinpoint the sections of nerves damaged and provide information on how to rehabilitate those injuries.

  Other applications include the use of physical therapy to recondition the body after an accident. This can be localized to a specific body portion or can be tailored for the entire body. Exercise also uses biomechanics information to develop an effective exercise routine that targets trouble areas of the body for further development and refining.