Biomechanics and Gait Analysis
- 1st Edition - March 26, 2020
- Latest edition
- Author: Nicholas Stergiou
- Language: English
Biomechanics and Gait Analysis presents a comprehensive book on biomechanics that focuses on gait analysis. It is written primarily for biomedical engineering students, professio… Read more
Biomechanics and Gait Analysis presents a comprehensive book on biomechanics that focuses on gait analysis. It is written primarily for biomedical engineering students, professionals and biomechanists with a strong emphasis on medical devices and assistive technology, but is also of interest to clinicians and physiologists. It allows novice readers to acquire the basics of gait analysis, while also helping expert readers update their knowledge. The book covers the most up-to-date acquisition and computational methods and advances in the field. Key topics include muscle mechanics and modeling, motor control and coordination, and measurements and assessments.
This is the go to resource for an understanding of fundamental concepts and how to collect, analyze and interpret data for research, industry, clinical and sport.
- Details the fundamental issues leading to the biomechanical analyses of gait and posture
- Covers the theoretical basis and practical aspects associated with gait analysis
- Presents methods and tools used in the field, including electromyography, signal processing and spectral analysis, amongst others
Engineers: Ergonomists, Biomedical Engineers, Biomechanists, Mechanical Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Human Factors Specialists. Clinicians: Physical Therapists, Prosthetists, Movement Disorders Specialists, Neurologists. Physiologists: Exercise Physiologists, Animal Physiologists. Psychologists: Motor Behavior Specialists. Kinesiologists: Practitioners, Exercise Scientists
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to biomechanics
Nick Stergiou
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The history of biomechanics
1.3 Areas of biomechanical inquiry: examples of diverse and unique questions in biomechanics
1.4 A quick look into the future of biomechanics
CHAPTER 2 Basic biomechanics
Aaron D. Likens and Nick Stergiou
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Analysis of movement
2.3 Basic terminology for analyzing movement
2.4 Basic bio considerations
2.5 Basic mechanics considerations
2.6 Summary and concluding remarks
CHAPTER 3 Advanced biomechanics
Barry T. Bates, Janet S. Dufek and Nick Stergiou
3.1 Injuries and biomechanics
3.2 Biomechanical statistics
3.3 Final considerations
CHAPTER 4 Why and how we move: the Stickman story
Barry T. Bates, Janet S. Dufek and Nick Stergiou
4.1 Briefly introducing Stickman
4.2 The Stickman’s evolution of movement
4.3 The Stickman’s performance of movement
4.4 The Stickman learns how to move
4.5 The Stickman’s mechanics
4.6 The Stickman’s goodbye
CHAPTER 5 Power spectrum and filtering
Andreas Skiadopoulos and Nick Stergiou
5.1 Introduction
5.2 A simple composite wave
5.3 Spectral analysis
5.4 Fourier series
5.5 Discrete Fourier analysis
5.6 Stationarity and the discrete Fourier transform
5.7 Short-time discrete Fourier transform
5.8 Noise
5.9 Data filtering
5.10 Practical implementation
5.11 Conclusion
CHAPTER 6 Revisiting a classic: Muscles, Reflexes, and Locomotion by McMahon
Douglas A. Rowen, Aaron D. Likens and Nick Stergiou
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Fundamental muscle mechanics
6.3 Muscle heat and fuel
6.4 Contractile proteins
6.5 Sliding movement: Huxley’s model revisited
6.6 Force development in the crossbridge
6.7 Reflexes and motor control
6.8 Neural control of locomotion
6.9 Mechanisms of locomotion
6.10 Effects of scale
6.11 Conclusion
CHAPTER 7 The basics of gait analysis
Luis M. Silva and Nick Stergiou
7.1 Introduction
7.2 The concept of skill
7.3 The skill of gait
7.4 Periods and phases of gait
7.5 Spatiotemporal parameters of gait
7.6 Determinants of gait
7.7 Conclusions
CHAPTER 8 Gait variability: a theoretical framework for gait analysis and biomechanics
James T. Cavanaugh and Nick Stergiou
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Conceptual approaches to gait variability
8.3 Gait analysis and biomechanical measurements for gait variability
8.4 Examples from clinical research
8.5 Future directions
CHAPTER 9 Coordination and control: a dynamical systems approach to the analysis of human gait
Aaron D. Likens and Nick Stergiou
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Hallmark properties of a dynamical system
9.3 A dynamical systems approach to gait analysis
9.4 Applications of relative phase dynamics to human gait
9.5 Summary and concluding remarks
CHAPTER 10 A tutorial on fractal analysis of human movements
Aaron D. Likens and Nick Stergiou
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Fractal theory and its connection to human movement
10.3 Fractal analysis of time series data
10.4 Applications to laboratory data
10.5 Conclusion
CHAPTER 11 Future directions in biomechanics: 3D printing
Jorge M. Zuniga and Nick Stergiou
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Lower extremity applications
11.3 Upper extremity applications
11.4 Methods for three-dimensional printing assistive devices
11.5 Anatomical modeling for surgical planning
11.6 Fracture
11.7 Upper extremity three-dimensional printed exoskeleton for stroke patients
11.8 Implementation of a three-dimensional printing research laboratory
11.9 Current Food and Drug Administration recommendations of three-dimensional printed medical devices
11.10 Limitations
11.11 Future perspectives
"All authors are contributors to the field and have leant their experiences to this text. Students and professionals interested in the general area of biomechanics and gait analysis, and applications thereof to areas related to rehabilitation and orthotics, will find this text of interest. Overall, this text is a well-written good overview of the current and possible applications of human biomechanics and gait analysis. Each chapter is well referenced and reflects well on the one or more authors’ work in the field. I recommend it as a good starting point for those interested in this area of endeavor."—IEEE Pulse
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: March 26, 2020
- Language: English
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Nicholas Stergiou
Dr. Nikolaos “Nick” Stergiou is a leading figure in biomechanics, serving as Distinguished Community Research Chair and Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). He directs the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability and oversees the Division of Biomechanics and Research Development. Notably, he established the first academic Department of Biomechanics offering BS, MS, and PhD degrees. His research specializes in the variability inherent in human movement and nonlinear dynamics, with applications ranging from infant development to fall prevention in older adults. Dr. Stergiou’s work has influenced surgical training and rehabilitation for conditions like peripheral arterial disease.
He has authored four scientific textbooks and over 250 peer-reviewed papers, accruing more than 17,000 citations and an H-index above 70. His contributions have earned him Fellow status in prestigious organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Dr. Stergiou has secured over $40 million in research funding from agencies such as NIH, NASA, and NSF. He notably received an NIH P20 grant exceeding $10 million—the largest in UNO’s history—which enabled the creation of the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, later renewed with an additional $10.3 million.
Beyond research, he has driven infrastructure development, obtaining $6 million in private donations to build the world’s first dedicated biomechanics research facility at UNO in 2013. He further secured $11.6 million for a 30,000-square-foot expansion opened in 2019 and recently procured $17.1 million for a second expansion set to open in 2026, underscoring his commitment to advancing biomechanics research and education.
Affiliations and expertise
Founding Chair, Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska Omaha, USARead Biomechanics and Gait Analysis on ScienceDirect