BIOM9510
Introductory Biomechanics
Lecture 4
Anne Simmons
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Free body diagrams
The system is carefully defined and drawn
in a simplified form often as a stick figure
or an outline of the system
Tail of the vector is placed at the point of
application
Magnitude and direction of the vectors are
shown accurately
Free body diagrams
Joint loads in the static case - elbow exercise
Redo the calculations for holding the weight in
the hand assuming the forearm/hand weighs
3kg and its CG is 10cm from the axis of rotation
Then add the effects of the brachialis and
brachioradialis muscles assuming the following
Brachialis moment arm is 5cm and its force is
50% of the force of the biceps in the y
direction only
Brachioradialis moment arm is 15cm and its
force is 30% of the force of the biceps at 30°
to the horizontal axis
Compare with results from other analyses
Biomechanics of musculoskeletal systems
Analysis and knowledge of the mechanisms
involved in producing segmental
movements
Upper limb – elbow
Upper limb – shoulder
Lower limb examples
Shoulder
Articulation of the glenoid fossa of the scapula
and the head of the humerus
Shoulder
Stabilising muscles
Shoulder
Muscles as movers
Deltoid
Origin - Lateral third of
clavicle, acromion, and spine
of scapula
Insertion - Deltoid tuberosity
of humerus
Action –
Anterior part: flexes and
medially rotates arm
Middle part: abducts arm
Posterior part: extends
and laterally rotates arm
Shoulder exercise
An athlete is holding a 10kg weight in his hand.
His shoulder is abducted to the horizontal and his
elbow is fully extended.
If only the deltoid is in play, calculate the force that
the deltoid muscle is exerting to maintain
equilibrium in this position
Calculate the force on the shoulder joint due to the
weight and action of the deltoid muscle.
Detail all assumptions
Expand the complexity of the situation with other
muscular involvement
Biomechanics of musculoskeletal systems
Hip joint
Articulation of the pelvis and
the femur
Femoral head
Acetabulum of the pelvis
Biomechanics of musculoskeletal systems
Hip joint
Femur
Biomechanics of musculoskeletal systems
Hip joint
Pelvis
Biomechanics of musculoskeletal systems
Hip joint
Articulation of the
pelvis and the
femur
Femoral head
Acetabulum
Moderately strong
More stable in
posterior
displacement
Hip
The bony and
ligamentous
arrangement of the
hip joint - anterior
Iliofemoral Y
ligament – strongest
in the body
Pubofemoral
ligament
Anterior stability
Hip
The bony and
ligamentous
arrangement of
the hip joint -
posterior
Ischiofemoral
ligament
Ligamentum teres
Posterior stability
Hip
Ligamentum teres
Knee joint
Articulation of
the distal end of
the femur and
proximal end of
the tibia
Semicircular
femoral condyles
Shallow convex
tibial surfaces
Weak stability
Knee joint
Shallow convex tibial surfaces
Semicircular femoral
condyles
Knee joint
Ligamentous and cartilaginous support
Menisci
Cruciates
Collaterals
Patellar ligament
Knee joint
Knee joint
Knee joint
Knee joint
Knee joint
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Quadriceps
Hamstrings
Iliopsoas
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Quadriceps muscles
4 separate muscles
Vastus x 3
Rectus femoris
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Rectus Femoris
Origin
Straight head from anterior inferior iliac
spine; reflected head from groove just
above acetabulum
Insertion
Base of patella to form the more central
portion of the quadriceps femoris
tendon
Action: hip flexion
knee extension
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Quadriceps muscles
Vastus Intermedius
Origin
Superior 2/3 of anterior and lateral
surfaces of femur; also from lateral
intermuscular septum of thigh
Insertion
Lateral border of patella; also forms
the deep portion of the quadriceps
tendon
Action: extends the knee
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Quadriceps muscles
Vastus Lateralis
Origin
Superior portion of intertrochanteric line,
anterior and inferior borders of greater
trochanter, superior portion of lateral lip of
linea aspera, and lateral portion of gluteal
tuberosity of femur
Insertion
Lateral base and border of patella; also forms
the lateral patellar retinaculum and lateral
side of quadriceps femoris tendon
Action: extends the knee
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Quadriceps muscles
Vastus Medialis
Origin
Inferior portion of intertrochanteric line,
spiral line, medial lip of linea aspera,
superior part of medial supracondylar ridge
of femur, and medial intermuscular septum
Insertion
Medial base and border of patella; also forms
the medial patellar retinaculum and medial
side of quadriceps femoris tendon
Action: extends the knee
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Quadriceps muscles
Small angle of attachment at the
tibia
Large stabilising component acting
at the knee joint
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Hamstrings
Comprises three muscles
Semimembranous
Semitendinous
Biceps femoris
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Semimembranous
Origin
Superior lateral quadrant of the
ischial tuberosity
Insertion
Posterior surface of the medial
tibial condyle
Action
Extends the thigh, flexes the knee,
and also rotates the tibia medially,
especially when the knee is flexed
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Semitendinosus
Origin
From common tendon with long head
of biceps femoris from superior
medial quadrant of the posterior
portion of the ischial tuberosity
Insertion
Superior aspect of medial portion of
tibial shaft
Action
Extends the thigh and flexes the knee,
and also rotates the tibia medially,
especially when the knee is flexed
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Biceps femoris – long head
Origin
Long head from superior medial quadrant
of the posterior portion of the ischial
tuberosity; short head from lateral lip of
linea aspera, lateral supracondylar ridge of
femur, and lateral intermuscular septum of
thigh
Insertion
Fibular head and lateral collateral ligament
and lateral tibial condyle
Action
Flexes the knee, rotates the tibia laterally;
long head also extends the hip joint
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Iliopsoas
Origin
Psoas from anterior surfaces and lower
borders of transverse processes of L1 - L5
and bodies and discs of T12 - L5;
Iliacus from upper 2/3 of iliac fossa of
ilium, internal lip of iliac crest, lateral
aspect of sacrum, ventral sacroiliac
ligament, and lower portion of iliolumbar
ligament
Insertion
Lesser trochanter
Action
Flexion of the torso and thigh with respect
to each other
Hip and knee joint - muscles
Gastrocnemius
Origin
Medial head from posterior nonarticular surface
of medial femoral condyle; Lateral head from
lateral surface of femoral lateral condyle
Insertion
The two heads unite into a broad aponeurosis
which eventually unites with the deep tendon of
the soleus to form the Achilles tendon, inserting
on the middle 1/3 of the posterior calcaneal
surface
Action
plantar flexion of ankle
Knee flexion
Hip joint – muscles as movers
Movements are
flexion, extension
abduction, adduction
medial and lateral rotation
transverse abduction (extension) and
adduction (flexion)
Mainly longitudinal muscles
Mainly two joint muscles
Hip joint - muscles
Stabilisers
Six external rotators
- posterior
Three gluteals –
posterior
Adductors – medial
Tensor fascia lata -
lateral
Hip joint - muscles
Stability during one
leg weight bearing
is very important
Hip joint - muscles
Stability during one leg weight bearing is
important
Anterior posterior axis through hip joint
Pelvis abducts and adducts relative to the thigh
Resistive force is the weight of the unsupported
body through the CG
Motive force is supplied by the muscles that
work to hold the pelvis level ie hip abductors
on the supported side
Hip joint - muscles
One leg weight bearing
Weight of body – weight of leg is
a force vector through CG
Resistive torque is high
Body is drawn over supporting
limb by the adductors
Body shifts to the supporting side
Hip joint - muscles
One leg weight bearing
Hip abductors prevent
the pelvis dropping
Hip joint - muscles
Stabilising
components are
large
∴ compression force
on the hip joint is
much larger than
the weight of the
unsupported body
Hip joint
Peak loads on the hip joint occur at
every step in the heel on and toe off
phases of walking
Healthy subjects perform >1 million
steps per year
High repetitive loading
Hip joint - muscles
EXERCISE : estimate the
ratio of the compressive
force on the hip and the
weight of the
unsupported body
based on the action of
the hip abductors alone
during one leg weight
bearing
Draw FBD
Hip joint - muscles
Compression force on the hip joint is
much larger than the weight of the
unsupported body
In normal walking, healthy body copes
But loads can cause arthritis, fatigue
fractures of the femoral neck, overuse
syndrome of the soft tissues in long
distance runners
Hip joint – estimate of loads
The load on the hip can be influenced by
changing the moment arm of the
gravitational force, changing the
moment arm of the abductors muscles
group or by using walking aids
Hip joint – influence of gait
Duchenne limp
CG of the body is shifted to
the side of the supporting
leg
Moment arm D is reduced
Force of abductors is
reduced
Decreased load on hip joint
Bending of lumbar spine is
unsustainable long term
Hip joint – orthosis
Use of orthosis
Support at ischial tuberosity
Centre of rotation shifted to
ischial tuberosity from femoral
head
Therefore reduced load on hip
joint
Hip joint – cane
Use of cane
contralaterally
Consider forces in y
direction only in stance
phase of gait
S is force from the cane
to the hand
W = 0.8 * m * g
D = 2 * L1
E = 4 * L1
Calculate the force on the
hip joint in the y
direction
Hip joint – surgical intervention
Varization osteotomy
where a bone wedge is
removed from the femur
Results in a decrease in
angle between the femoral
neck and the femur
The moment arm of the
abductor muscle is 15%
larger
Knee joint
Articulation of
the distal end of
the femur and
proximal end of
the tibia
Semicircular
femoral condyles
Shallow convex
tibial surfaces
Weak stability
Knee joint
Shallow convex tibial surfaces
Semicircular femoral
condyles
Knee joint
Ligamentous and cartilaginous support
Menisci
Cruciates
Collaterals
Patellar ligament
Knee joint
Good stability when knee is extended due
to taut ligaments around and within
Less stability when flexed to accommodate
the need to change direction during
locomotion
During flexion, ACL and collateral ligaments
are less taut allowing more mobility
Knee joint – muscular stability
Knee joint – muscular stability
Knee must provide mobility and
stability
Movements are flexion and extension
with some lateral and medial rotation
during flexion
The angle of attachment of the quads
to the tibia is small and the
stabilising force exerted on the knee
by this muscle is large
Knee joint – muscular stability
Particularly relevant when the
hamstrings are flexing the knee past
90°
Hamstrings have a backward
dislocating component
Knee joint – muscular stability
In this situation the stabilising
component of the quads is equal in
magnitude to the dislocating
component of the hamstrings
Particularly relevant when the
hamstrings are flexing the knee past
90°
Hamstrings have a backward
dislocating component
Knee joint – muscular stability
Knee joint – instrumentation
In early 2007, the
first instrumented
tibial tray was
implanted
successfully in a 63
years old male
patient
Knee joint – instrumentation
One week later, the
first in vivo
measurements during
weight bearing and
during physiotherapy
were captured.
Knee joint – instrumentation
Knee joint – instrumentation
Knee joint – instrumentation
Exercise
Consider the static one leg weight
bearing situation described
previously
Estimate the ground force acting
vertically through the foot of a 70kg
man in this position
Estimate the joint force at the knee
