The short answer to your question is, "no."
The science of "biomechanics" is the study of how traditional laws of
mechanics apply specifically to various biological functions. These
functions include but are not limited to ergonomics, gait and
locomotion, motor control, orthopedics, prosthetics, sport and
excercise, dentistry, physical therapy and others. Any biological
activity which is facilitated through physical motion may be described
through biomechanical concepts and/or formulae.
In general, biomechanics is not pursued at the cellular level,
although this may change as technological advancements alllow greater
understanding of celluar processes.
Keep in mind that the more specific any one topic becomes, there will
be tenets or central concepts which tend to hold true for that very
specific area of study, which may or may not considered to be "laws"
for that narrow field. For example, if you study the walking motion
of juvenile cassowaris and formulate certain hypothesis on their top
running speed based on bone length ratios, you could say that the
ratios you "discover" then become "laws" for anyone studying the
biomechanics of juvenile cassowari maximum running speeds. This is not
the same, however, as a universal formula, such as those in physics
like F=MA, which are universally applicable.
Also, a large part of biomechanics today involves using computer
software programs to model specific biomechanical events which occur
in nature.
Kinesiology is closely related to biomechanics. From
http://www.usd.edu/~jarichar/HIST.html, "History of Biomechanics and
Kinesiology":
"Kinesiology is a combination of the Greek for 'to move' (kinein) and
'logos' (discourse). Kinesiologists - those who discourse on
movement-in effect combine anatomy, the science of structure of the
body, with physiology, the science of function of the body, to produce
kinesiology, the science of movement of the body."
The field of biophysics is also related to biomechanics. Physics are
the natural physical laws which cause a motion, while mechanics are an
invention of sorts (whether natural, as with bones and tendons, or
artificial, as with pulleys and springs) to facilitate and/or direct a
motion governed by the laws of physics.
The following are sites which give information on biomechanics:
Biomechanics Magazine Online:
http://www.biomech.com/
American Society of Biomechanics:
http://asb-biomech.org/
International Society of Biomechanics:
http://www.isbweb.org/
SIMM Biomechanics Software Suite:
http://www.scientificweb.de/software/musculographics/simme.html
Google search strategy:
Keywords, "biomechanics"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=biomechanics++&btnG=Google+Search
"biomechanics laws"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=biomechanics++laws
"biomechanics software"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=biomechanics++software
"kinesiology"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=kinesiology
"biophysics"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=biophysics
Good luck in continuing your inquiries!
~omniscientbeing-ga |
