This book presents an account of innovative methods and, for most of them, gives direct and practical insights into how practitioners can benefit from their use in their everyday practice. It also explains how to interpret the data measured, and the underlying neuromechanical and biomechanical factors related to sports performance. Written and edited by the same researchers who proposed and validated these methods, this book not only presents innovative methods for an efficient training and testing process (most of which are based on very simple technology and data processing methods), but also discusses the associated background information. Although it is a young scientific discipline, sport biomechanics has taken on an important role in routine sports training, medicine and rehabilitation. It allows both a better understanding of human locomotion and performance and better design of training and injury prevention. In those processes, the testing of athletes is crucial, and the quality and quantity of the variables analysed directly influences the efficiency of physicians’, coaches’, physiotherapists’ and other practitioners’ interventions.
Please note: This text was replaced with a fourth edition. This version is available only for courses using the third edition and will be discontinued at the end of the semester. Taking a unique approach to the presentation of mechanical concepts, Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise eBook, Third Edition With Web Resource, introduces exercise and sport biomechanics in simple terms. By providing mechanics before functional anatomy, the book helps students understand forces and their effects before studying how body structures deal with forces. Students will learn to appreciate the consequences of external forces, how the body generates internal forces to maintain position, and how forces create movement in physical activities. Rather than presenting the principles as isolated and abstract, the text enables students to discover the principles of biomechanics for themselves through observation. By examining ordinary activities firsthand, students will develop meaningful explanations resulting in a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanical concepts. This practical approach combines striking visual elements with clear and concise language to encourage active learning and improved comprehension. This updated edition maintains the organization and features that made previous editions user friendly, such as a quick reference guide of frequently used equations printed on the inside cover and review questions at the end of each chapter to test students’ understanding of important concepts. The third edition also incorporates new features to facilitate learning: • Two online resources incorporate sample problems and use of video to allow practical application of the material. • New art and diagrams enhance problem sets and help students visualize the mechanics of real-world scenarios. • Increased number of review questions (200) and problem sets (120) provide an opportunity for practical application of concepts. • Greater emphasis on the basics, including improved descriptions of conversions and an expanded explanation of the assumption of point mass when modeling objects, provides a stronger foundation for understanding. • New content on deriving kinematic data from video or film and the use of accelerometers in monitoring physical activity keeps students informed of technological advances in the field. Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise eBook, Third Edition With Web Resource, is supplemented with two companion resources that will help students better comprehend the material. Packaged with this e-book, the web resource includes all of the problems from the book, separated by chapter, plus 18 sample problems that guide students step by step through the process of solving. This e-book may also be enhanced with access to MaxTRAQ Educational 2D software for Windows. MaxTRAQ Educational 2D software enables students to analyze and quantify real-world sport movements in video clips and upload their own video content for analysis. The software supplements the final section of the text that bridges the concepts of internal and external forces with the application of biomechanics; it also provides an overview of the technology used in conducting quantitative biomechanical analyses. The MaxTRAQ Educational 2D software must be purchased separately to supplement this e-book at the MaxTRAQ website. Instructors will benefit from an updated ancillary package. An instructor guide outlines each chapter and offers step-by-step solutions to the quantitative problems presented, as well as sample lecture topics, student activities, and teaching tips. A test package makes it easy to prepare quizzes and tests, and an image bank contains most of the figures and tables from the text for use in developing course presentations. Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise, Third Edition, is ideal for those needing a deeper understanding of biomechanics from a qualitative perspective. Thoroughly updated and expanded, this text makes the biomechanics of physical activity easy to understand and apply.
It is an essential skill for any strength and conditioning coach to be able to reliably assess the physical performance of their athletes and communicate the results and their implications to performers and coaches, alike. Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning is the first textbook to clearly and coherently suggest the most appropriate and reliable methods for assessing and monitoring athletes’ performance, as well as including detailed sections on testing considerations and the interpretation and application of results. The book explores the full range of considerations required to reliably assess performance, including questions of ethics and safety, reliability and validity, and standardised testing, before going on to recommend (through a comparison of field- and laboratory-based techniques) the optimal methods for testing all aspects of physical performance, including: injury risk jump performance sprint performance change of direction and agility strength power aerobic performance body composition Closing with a section on interpreting, presenting and applying results to practice, and illustrated with real-life case study data throughout, Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning offers the most useful guide to monitoring athlete performance available. It is an essential text for upper-level strength and conditioning students and practitioners alike.
The BioMechanics Method for Corrective Exercise enables health and fitness professionals to identify common musculoskeletal imbalances in their clients and apply appropriate corrective exercises to swiftly eliminate muscle and joint pain and improve physical function.
Weightlifting Training and Biomechanics covers a gamut of training and technique from the perspective of Soviet era sport science to modern radical, departures in theory of biomechanics: “Can There Be Such A Thing As An Asian Pull”; “Equilibrium in Weightlifting”; “The Foot, the Ankle Joint and Asian Pull”. “Asian pull’ technique is in all probability an effort to circumvent gravity by finding the path of least resistance for the body’s movements, which means these movements need not be designed to raise body center of mass as high as possible (as in the Russian pull) before squatting under the barbell. “The Asian pull technique is antithetical to Russian protocols which stipulate the lifter remain flat - footed as trunk and thighs straighten in unison during the explosion phase (see figure 3). Much of the explosion phase of the Asian pull is carried out with shoulder joints behind the vertical line of the bar with heels raised as legs straighten.” “Peculiarities of balance, equilibrium and stability are not unique to weightlifting. In point of fact they can even be considered 'normal aberrations' in athletics; given the extraordinary complexity of the human body's movement possibilities. Furthermore, the high incidence of injuries in American sport can be traced to a catastrophic outcome of strength and conditioning training, therapeutics and the like; where an athlete's movements are choreographed to conform to rigid, arbitrarily conceived limitations; especially linear (Charniga, 2015 - 2017). Five articles have appeared in the EWF Science journal with another two awaiting publication.
This book reviews the main principles of resistance training, from basics to modern insights. It includes practical ways to develop most of the strength training methods, including monitoring and testing procedures. It merges practical tips with knowledge about the scientific background concerning program and periodization. It describes procedures for special populations, such as elderly or women. Gathering contributions by authoritative researchers and professors in the fields of sport science and biomechanics, this book provides an integrated view of strength training programming, and describes the most important biological factors associated with this type of training. The evidence-based and detailed description of each single mechanism to be trained to enhance performance is covered in depth. Thanks to its strong academic background, an being self-contained, this book offers a valuable reference guide for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in sports science, as well as an inspiring guide for sport and health researchers and professional trainers alike.
NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments offers strength and conditioning professionals a one-stop resource for the best research-supported fitness and performance measures available. Created by top experts in the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), this comprehensive text offers extensive information on which factors matter and how to evaluate them as accurately and easily as possible. Editor Todd Miller and an authoritative team of contributors have compiled an exceptional reference and valuable tool for practicing professionals and an indispensable educational resource for students. NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments presents the latest research from respected scientists and practitioners in exercise testing and assessment. The text begins with an introduction to testing, data analysis, and formulating conclusions. It then features a by-chapter presentation of tests and assessments for body composition, heart rate and blood pressure, metabolic rate, aerobic power, lactate threshold, muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, speed and agility, mobility, and balance and stability. Using descriptions of multiple test options for each key fitness component, readers will learn to choose from a range of alternatives to meet the needs of their athletes, reach training objectives, choose from available equipment, and work within budgets. Each chapter provides a summary detailing the key testing and assessment information for each fitness component, the equipment needed for performing the tests, step-by-step instructions, normative data for the tests, and multiple test options per conditioning component. Insights into the applications of testing for certain fitness components are also presented: • The value of body composition assessments in determining health and fitness levels for competitive athletes as well as individuals across the life span • How an understanding of 24-hour energy expenditure can be useful in structuring a complete diet and exercise plan for weight loss, gain, or maintenance • How to select a maximal or submaximal aerobic power test that is specific to the demands of a client’s or athlete’s sport • Discussion of the mechanical and physiological factors shown to influence the expression of muscular strength • An examination of the relevant factors influencing power production and explosive movement capacity • Differences between mobility and flexibility and a discussion of the acute versus chronic effects of static stretching • Theories and concepts of balance and stability, their effects on performance, and categories of testing for balance and stability NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments also includes NSCA-approved testing protocols, extensive references to current research, and applications for the testing of conditioning components. Information is presented in an accessible manner to help explain the findings of both researchers and practitioners so that readers can select the most effective and efficient approach for athlete and client assessments. Properly conducted tests and skillful assessment of data enable fitness professionals to develop individualized training programs based on their clients’ or athletes’ physiological and functional capacities. Credible, current, and complete, NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments provides a clear understanding of the test selection process, how to implement appropriate data collection, and how to analyze data to make appropriate training decisions that will help athletes and clients achieve their performance goals. NSCA’s Guide to Tests and Assessments is part of the Science of Strength and Conditioning series. Developed with the expertise of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), this series of texts provides the guidelines for converting scientific research into practical application. The series covers topics such as tests and assessments, program design, and nutrition. Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education course and exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes all the course materials and exam.
This edition presents the basic mechanics of injury, function of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of injury on connective tissue which often tends to be involved in the injury process.
This integrates theory and technique, explaining how to define and solve biomechanical problems. Practical examples of cinematography, force and pressure transducers, EMG measurements, and other testing procedures are clearly explained.
Mechanical testing is a useful tool in the field of biomechanics. Classic biomechanics employs mechanical testing for a variety of purposes. For instance, testing may be used to determine the mechanical properties of bone under a variety of loading modes and various conditions including age and disease state. In addition, testing may be used to assess fracture fixation procedures to justify clinical approaches. Mechanical testing may also be used to test implants and biomaterials to determine mechanical strength and appropriateness for clinical purposes. While the information from a mechanical test will vary, there are basics that need to be understood to properly conduct mechanical testing. This book will attempt to provide the reader not only with the basic theory of conducting mechanical testing, but will also focus on providing practical insights and examples. Table of Contents: Preface / Fundamentals / Accuracy and Measurement Tools / Design / Testing Machine Design and Fabrication / Fixture Design and Applications / Additional Considerations in a Biomechanics Test / Laboratory Examples and Additional Equations / Appendices: Practical Orthopedic Biomechanics Problems / Bibliography / Author Biography
