Overview

This unit investigates the fundamental principles of biomechanics associated with human movement. Kinematic and kinetic principles will be applied to sporting and everyday movements to improve performance, improve health or reduce injury. Students will use a variety of qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyse human movement.

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Describe and apply the fundamental principles of biomechanics to a variety of human motion in exercise, sport and daily living
  • Safely conduct measurements and interpret data about human motion using basic biomechanical equipment, instrumentation and software
  • Integrate knowledge of functional anatomy, motor learning and control, anatomy and physiology in the understanding of kinematics and kinetics applied to motion

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Lecture
2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Lab
2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various
4.00 12 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
4.50 12 weeks 54
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 30% 1,2,3 
Mid-Semester TestIndividual 10% 1,3 
Practical ExaminationIndividual 60% 1,2,3 

Content

  • Fundamental principles of biomechanics e.g. Newton’s laws, force, acceleration and mass
  • Ergonomics associated with daily living
  • Core instrumentation and equipment for monitoring and assessment of motion in exercise, sport and daily living
  • Biomechanical analysis of motion
  • Integration of biomechanics with other sub-disciplines
  • Review and analysis of biomechanical data
  • 2D motion capture
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Graduate Attribute 1 – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
  • Graduate Attribute 2 – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute 5 – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
  • Graduate Attribute 6 – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.