Biomechanics Of Normal And Pathological Human Articulating Joints

The widespread occurrence of the various forms of arthritis not only results in a great waste of manpower, but also causes immeasurable pain and suffering for the patients. Due to the limited understanding of its etiology, the currently available treatments are directed at the effects of the disease rather than its causes. The solutions available to the clinician at the advanced stages of arthritis are frequently surgical and include prosthetic replacement arthroplasty. Many advances have been made in the last decade in the basic understanding of the kinematics and kinetics of anatomical joints, as well as in the technology of joint replacement. The NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Portugal during June 20-July 1, 1983 addressed these topics and provided instruction on the advances in biomechanics of diarthrodial joints. The proceedings of this Institute are presented in this volume. Many different areas of specialization contribute to the field of joint biomechanics. Due to the complexity of each individual topic, it was not attempted here to present a complete treatise of each of these areas. Each chapter typically gives a review and a flavor of the subject matter, as well as discussing the state-of the-art advances in general or in specific research areas. Some of the chapters, such as those on lubrication and muscle mechanics, are more mathematically oriented than the others. Nevertheless, the reader with a non-engineering background, I trust, would still find most of the book informative and easy to read.

This reference work brings together the biology, mechanics, neurophysiology and pathophysiology of diseased joints, illustrates available physiologically-based treatments for osteoarthrosis and explains how and when to use them.;Highlighting the most up-to-date biomechanical principles, Mechanics of Human Joints: discusses the functional anatomy of joints; relates the neurophysiology of joints to ligamentous reconstruction; elucidates the pathophysiology of osteoarthrosis; summarizes the latest information on muscle physiology and electromyography; examines the effect of vibration and impulsive loading on joint pathology; and explicates the principles of prosthetic joint replacement.

Comparative Kinesiology of the Human Body: Normal and Pathological Conditions covers changes in musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiopulmonary systems that, when combined, are the three pillars of human movement. It examines the causes, processes, consequences and contexts of physical activity from different perspectives and life stages, from early childhood to the elderly. The book explains how purposeful movement of the human body is affected by pathological conditions related to any of these major systems. Coverage also includes external and internal factors that affect human growth patterns and development throughout the lifespan (embryo, child, adult and geriatrics). This book is the perfect reference for researchers in kinesiology, but it is also ideal for clinicians and students involved in rehabilitation practice. Includes in-depth coverage of the mechanical behavior of the embryo as one of the major determinants of human movement throughout the lifecycle Provides a comparison of human movement between normal and pathological conditions Addresses each body region in functional and dysfunctional kinesiological terms

Although its underlying concept is a relatively simple one—the measurement of the human body and its parts—anthropometry employs a myriad of methods and instruments, and is useful for a variety of purposes, from understanding the impact of disease on individuals to tracking changes in populations over time. The first interdisciplinary reference on the subject, the Handbook of Anthropometry brings this wide-ranging field together: basic theory and highly specialized topics in normal and abnormal anthropometry in terms of health, disease prevention, and intervention. Over 140 self-contained chapters cover up-to-date indices, the latest studies on computerized methods, shape-capturing systems, and bioelectrical impedance, data concerning single tissues and whole-body variables, and reports from different areas of the world. Chapters feature helpful charts and illustrations, cross-references to related chapters are included, and key points are presented in bullet form for ease of comprehension. Together, the Handbook’s thirteen sections entail all major aspects of anthropometrical practice and research, including: Tools and techniques. Developmental stages, from fetus to elder. Genetic diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer. Exercise and nutrition. Ethnic, cultural, and geographic populations. Special conditions and circumstances. The Handbook of Anthropometry is an invaluable addition to the reference libraries of a broad spectrum of health professionals, among them health scientists, physicians, physiologists, nutritionists, dieticians, nurses, public health researchers, epidemiologists, exercise physiologists, and physical therapists. It is also useful to college-level students and faculty in the health disciplines, as well as to policymakers and ergonomists.

The importance of measurements for the proper assessment of human locomotion is increasingly being recognized. The fields of application encompass both healthy and pathological locomotion as encountered in rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, kinesiology, sports medicine, and the like. Measurement of Human Locomotion provides an up-to-date description of the instrument systems used for measurement of: kinematics of human movement; kinetic quantities experienced by the human body in contact with the ground; and, myoelectric changes associated with locomotor activity. Physical principles behind the operation of various measurement systems are emphasized, as well as signal processing issues that must be addressed in order to obtain and use quantitative measurement variables in biomechanics. The book explains how measurement data are acquired, processed and presented to the user in the environment of a modern, computer-based laboratory. The ultimate aim is to contribute to the processes of the diagnosis and treatment of locomotion disorders. The purpose of Measurement of Human Locomotion is to provide a concise but comprehensive presentation of the systems used for the measurement of human locomotion, with a view to the assessment and diagnosis of the phenomenon.