Biomechanical Imaging and Material Testing

Some biomechanists study the individual components of a biological system to understand more about movement capabilities. These scientists examine topics such as the maximum forces that muscles can produce, the stiffness in soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons, and how bones respond to loading. Understanding the properties of the materials that make up the body is critical to understanding how we move.

This video demonstrates a strength test for the leg muscles. – courtesy of East Carolina University.

Here we have a knee imaged with video radiography. This is a quick video of a moving knee joint. Don’t blink. courtesy of the Spaulding National Running Center, Harvard Medical School.