Terrestrial Biomechanics: Locomotion, Hitting and Throwing

Code:

PDCD048

Acronym:

PDCD048

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Sports Sciences

Instance: 2023/2024 - SP

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Sport Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDCD	5	Plano em vigor a partir de 2009	1	-	5	45	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Students will gain advanced knowledge and competencies for the development of fundamental and applied biomechanical research applied to the understanding of dry-land based movements Students will dominate the background knowledge and be able to operate systems of kinematical (image based, inertial or other), anthropometric, dynamometric (force plates and load cells, pressure transduction), and surface electromyography evaluation.
Furthermore, they will be able to combine those instruments to further implement the state of the art on knowledge about gait, running, jumping, hitting and throwing.

Learning outcomes and competences

In accordance with the purposes of the curricular unit, the contents expressed at the Syllabus were organized to allow starting for the presentation, explanation and exemplification of the more fundamental topics related to advanced research in Biomechanics. Doing so, it makes clear for the students the relevance of the different possible incidences of future advanced research in the field, particularly in what concerns to fundamental and applied research using analytical, numerical or experimental approaches, both in internal or external biomechanics related to gait, running, jumping, hitting and throwing: the fundamental gestures associated with dry-land human movements. Special needs and aids in these areas are also addressed.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction to research in biomechanics
   1.1. Applied and fundamental research
   1.2. Internal and external biomechanics
   1.3. Analytical, numerical and experimental approaches to biomechanical problems
2. Gait analysis and research
   2.1. General and historical overview
   2.2. Kinematical, dynamometrical (direct and inverse), (Kin-Dyn [d-i]) and EMG evidences; limitations   and perspectives
   2.3. Walking aids for special needs
3. Running analysis and research
   3.1. General and historical overview
   3.2. Kin-Dyn (d-i) and EMG evidences; limitations and perspectives
   3.3. Running aids for special needs
4. Jumping analysis and research
   4.1. General and historical overview
   4.2. Kin-Dyn (d-i) and EMG evidences; limitations and perspectives
   4.3. Jumping aids for special needs
5. Hitting and Throwing analysis and research
   5.1. General and historical overview
   5.2. Kin-Dyn (d-i) and EMG evidences; limitations and perspectives
   5.3. Locomotion aids for special needs.
6. Alternative analysis (for points 2 to 5) osf problems raised by students' projects.

Mandatory literature

Thomas K. Uchida; Biomechanics of movement. ISBN: 978-0-262-04420-2
Robertson D. Gordon E., et al.; Research methods in biomechanics. ISBN: 0-7360-3966-X
Enoka Roger M.; Neuromechanics of human movement. ISBN: 0-7360-0251-0
Winter David A.; Biomechanics and motor control of human movement. ISBN: 0-471-44989-X

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical/expositive teaching with resolution of problems based on students’ autonomous work. If needed,laboratorial based teaching for the application of the theoretical concepts, and interpretation of the observed results.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	60,00
Frequência das aulas	15,00
Trabalho de investigação	60,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Participation in 75% of classes

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation Mode:

Distributed without final exam.

Access to Final Classification:

Positive (9.5 into a 0 to 20 scale) evaluation on the students’ autonomous work.

Attendance to classes according to law is also required.

Calculus of the final classification:

The classification obtained at the students’ autonomous work, done in two components: literature review and project.

Classification improvement

Improvement of the final classification and Special Evaluation:

New autonomous work, done in two components: literature review and project.

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