Biomekaniiken

Biomekaniiken is the study of the mechanical principles governing living organisms. It analyzes how forces interact with biological structures to produce movement, support, and tissue function. The field spans musculoskeletal mechanics, locomotion and posture, tissue deformation, and fluid dynamics in biological systems. It integrates biology, physics, and engineering to understand how form and function are constrained by mechanics.

Historically, early work by Giovanni Alfonso Borelli in the 17th century laid foundations for the concept of living machines. The term biomechanics emerged in the 20th century, with rapid growth spurred by advances in imaging, computational modeling, and materials science. The term Biomekaniiken is used in Swedish and Norwegian contexts to refer to this discipline.

Methods include motion capture, force plates, electromyography, and advanced imaging such as MRI and CT. Researchers develop computational tools, including multibody dynamics, musculoskeletal modeling, and finite element analysis, to simulate movement, force transmission, and tissue mechanics.

Applications span orthopedics and rehabilitation, sports science and performance analysis, prosthetics and orthotics, and ergonomics. The field also encompasses bio-inspired robotics and the study of plant biomechanics, including growth forces and tissue mechanics, highlighting the broad reach of mechanical principles in biology.

As an interdisciplinary domain, biomekaniiken blends biology, physics, and engineering. Ongoing challenges include accounting for biological variability, scaling laws between species and sizes, and translating models into clinical practice and product design.