Biomechanics of human movement with applications to the study of human locomotion

A review of the biomechanics of human movement is presented and covers the neural control of voluntary movement, as it manifests itself in the electromyogram, through to detailed kinetic analyses and simulation studies. The body of knowledge of muscle performance is covered in detail, from the individual motor unit characteristics, through recruitment patterns to the static and dynamic characteristics of the total muscle and its relationship to the electromyogram. A summary of research into the movement of the skeletal (segmental) system itself covers the kinematic data collection systems, the link-segment modeling with anthropometric measures, and the inverse dynamics solution of the joint kinetics. A critique of current simulation models reveals a diversity of simplifications and assumptions that seriously affect the interpretation of results. Similarly, a critical assessment of the literature pertaining to mechanical energy, work, power and efficiency exposes many varied and anomalous techniques and correspondingly confusing interpretations. At all phases of the review the author attempts to reconcile differences, criticize obvious errors, and identify important contributions.