The course aims to provide the student with specific notions of the laws of physics, applied to human movement and muscle mechanics, with applications to different specific sporting gestures.

The program will be organized into two parts: a first, entirely theoretical introductory part, and a second, applied, theoretical-practical part.

Specifically, the topics covered will be: 

Part 1

• Introduction to biomechanics: definition and applications
• Position, velocity, acceleration
• Projectile's motion
• Newton's laws
• Impulse-momentum relationship
• Torque and center of mass
• Angular kinetics and conservation of angular motion
• Work, power, energy

Part 2

• Muscle action and kinetic chains
• Biomechanical applications in strength training
• Biomechanics of walking and running
• Biomechanics applied to jumping
• Biomechanics applied to throwing
• Biomechanics applied to the pedaling cycle
• Introduction to video analysis

None.

Knowledge and understanding (knowledge and understanding):

Knowledge of the internal and external forces involved in athletic gestures and how to evaluate them through quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques.

Knowledge and understanding, applied (applying knowledge and understanding):

The student will be required to apply the acquired knowledge in the biomechanical analysis of different sports specialties.

Autonomy of judgment (making judgements):

The student, in the process of forming his or her own knowledge, is called upon to formulate choices and organize the stages of preparation for the planned tests.

Communication skills (communication skills):

Students will be asked to formulate hypotheses of evaluation forms for different phases of the sporting activities

Learning skills (learning skills):

Through the preceding components, the student is expected to highlight his or her independently developed acquisition and linkage skills and find scientific literature on the topic.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Thematic lessons with experts in the field are planned.

Practical exercises will include the evaluation of a force/velocity curve, general notions of how a force platform works, and 2D and 3D video analysis for the study of angular kinetics as applied to different sporting gestures.

Teaching

Frontal lessons.

Innovative teaching methods

Several strategies for active student involvement will be used during the lessons, with some lectures conducted in the gym and with group exercises/discussions in the class.

Course books

Study materials will mainly consist of the lecture handouts of the professor and presentations of any external lectures.

The text is strongly recommended: Blazevich, A. Sports Biomechanics. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017.

The slides discussed in class and other material deemed useful for exam preparation will be available within the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Assessment

The examination will involve a written test, consisting of different modes (open-ended answers, multiple-choice quizzes).

In addition, in-itinerary assessments may be supported by the student's choice of a project work: an in-depth study on the biomechanical analysis of a sporting gesture, using scientific sources and web resources, which will then be presented to colleagues with the discussion of a short powerpoint.

Possible variations in the examination mode will be communicated to students at the beginning of the course.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.