Course overview
What exactly was Grandma's hip replaced with? How does my skeleton reinvent itself continuously? How are my car's occupant safety features evaluated? What is an ACL and why does it rupture? Engineering biomechanics is involved in every movement we make, and is critical to many areas of medicine and safety. This course will explore the function, structure and mechanics of tissues in the musculoskeletal system (e.g. bone, tendon, cartilage, etc.), the function and design principles of orthopaedic implants and artificial joints, and the fundamentals of injury biomechanics. In each of these areas, the experimental, analytical and computational research methods used to study function, dysfunction and trauma will be discussed. Learning opportunities will include hands-on laboratory activities, facility visits and demonstrations. Contemporary examples and case studies will be used to explore new and emerging orthopaedic and injury biomechanics technologies.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate understanding of the biomechancal functions of the musculoskeletal system
- Explain the function of diathroidal joints, and the function, design, limitations and failure mechanisms of artifical joints;
- Explain the mechanical principles of fracture and spinal fixation, and compare/contrast associated implant design and action
- Undertake fundamental calculations in the areas of tissue, orthopaedic and injury biomechanics
- Demonstrate understanding of musculosketal tissue (e.g. bone, ligament, tendon, cartilage, disc) function, structure, microstructure and mechanics, and the relationships between these
- Demonstrate understanding of the principles of injury biomechanics, and the function of standardised safety testing and injury criteria.
- Evaluate the relevant literature and identify a clinical problem, and take the first steps towards formulating a research hypothesis and designing appropriate experimental methods/analytical models to test the hypothesis.
- Critically analyse, interpret, evaluate and synthesise relevant literature and other information (e.g. equipment documentation, alternative information sources) to explain applications of biomechanics.
- Investigate emerging new technologies in the biomechanics field.
- Appreciate the multi-disciplinary collaborative nature of biomechanics research and practice.