Unit BIOMECHANICS AND KINESIOLOGY APPLIED TO MOTOR AND SPORT ACTIVITIES

Course
Sciences and tecniques of sports and preventive and adapted physical activities
Study-unit Code
A006413
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Andrea Biscarini
Teachers
  • Andrea Biscarini
Hours
  • 48 ore - Andrea Biscarini
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2026
Offered
2026/27
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Discipline motorie e sportive
Sector
MEDF-01/B
Type of study-unit
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Italian
Contents
Forces acting on the musculo-skeletal system: external forces, muscle forces, joint reaction forces.
Kinesiology of the musculo-skeletal system.
Biomechanical analysis of the different kinds of physical exercise and exercise equipment.
Experimental techniques in biomechanics: elecrtomyography, stabilometry, kinematic analisys of human movement.
Principles and tecniques of functional rehabilitation.
Reference texts
Kisner, Colby. Therapeutic Exercise. F.A. Davis Company. 2013.
Neumann. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System. Mosby. 2016.
Slides projected and downloadable from the UniStudium platform
Educational objectives
To understand and use the fundamental theoretical methods and experimental techniques used in musculoskeletal biomechanics.
To learn the methodological tools necessary to carry out an in-depth analysis of the most relevant biomechanical aspects (posture, movement kinematic, muscle activations, joint loads) of a physical exercise, in sports, fitness, and functional reeducation.
To be able to design a physical exercise optimized for specific individual needs.
Prerequisites
Necessary prerequisites: basic knowledge of Physics, Anatomy, and Physiology.
Teaching methods
Face-to-face lectures held in classroom (theoretical bases of biomechanics) and in the Biomechanical laboratory (experimental techniques in biomechanics).
Other information
None.
Learning verification modality
The exam consists of a single computer-based written test. The examination is aimed at assessing the degree of knowledge and understanding, and the ability to apply the acquired competences to the field of applied biomechanics and kinesiology.
The written test lasts 35 minutes and consists of 35 closed-answer questions.
For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or SLD, visit the page
Extended program
1. THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BASES OF BIOMECHANICS

1.1 Mechanics of point mass systems and rigid bodies.
1.2 External force acting on the musculoskeletal system and their use as reistance during physical exercises. Force platforms.
1.3 Muscle force. Application point, direction, magnitude, traction angle, moment arm, axial moment. Force-time, force-velocity, and force-length relationships. Electromyography.
1.4 Compression, traction, shear, and torsion joint forces. Ligament tension forces and bone-to-bone joint contact forces.
1.5 Kinematic analysis of human body movement. Electrogoniometers, accelerometers, optoelectronic motion capture systems.
1.6 Formulation and solution of the direct and inverse dynamic problem in biomechanics. Biomechanical modelling.

2. BIOMECHANICS OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE

2.1 Functional anatomy of the musculoskeletal system.
2.2 Biomechanics of equipment for physical exercise.
2.3 Biomechanical analysis of the different kinds of physical exercise: breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, posture awareness exercises, postural control and stabilization exercises, flexibility exercises, muscle performance exercises, aerobic exercises, balance exercises, coordination and agility exercises, functional exercises.

3. BIOMECHANICS APPLIED TO PHYSICAL REHABILITATION AND INJURY PREVENTION

3.1 Therapeutic exercise.
3.2 Exercises for specific functional impairments, poor posture, muscle imbalances, muscle weakness, and muscle tightness.
3.3 Control of joint and muscle forces during physical exercise.