Biomechanics New Findings

 Biomechanics is that the application of engineering principles to living organisms. Biomechanics of organisms are often examined at different levels: cellular level (e.g., response of cells to an externally applied force or deformation), tissue level (e.g., strain of the anterior cruciate ligament during normal gait), and whole-joint level (e.g., joint contact forces during activities of daily living). Engineering principles could also be wont to understand the cause and progression of the many rheumatic diseases. A basic understanding of those principles is useful for clinicians and medical professionals. This chapter presents a rudimentary background of engineering mechanics concerning whole-joint and tissue mechanics within the physical body . Biomechanics of human tissues has been an expanding research field since the publication in 1981 of the book entitled Biomechanics: Mechanical Properties of Living Tissues by Yuan-Cheng Fung [FUN 81]. Since that date, many groups within the world have proposed biomechanical models of sentimental organs and hard tissues to review their physiology and sophisticated mechanical behavior within the framework of nonlinear continuum mechanics, as reflected in e.g. [OGD 84, COW 00, TAB 04, HOL 00, HOL 06, GAS 06] and within the newer monographs dedicated to the physiology and mechanical response of all soft tissues of the physical body [OHA 17] and references therein. The vivid research activity in Biomechanics is further reflected by the regular international conferences and courses organized on the subject.