biomechanical

Biomechanical is an adjective relating to biomechanics, the study of the mechanical principles governing living systems. It examines how forces such as muscle activity, gravity, and external loads interact with biological structures to produce movement, resist stress, and yield tissue deformation. The field integrates biology, physics, engineering, and medicine to understand structure and function across scales from molecules to whole organisms.

The scope includes human and animal movement, musculoskeletal mechanics, and tissue mechanics (bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament), as well as cardiovascular and respiratory mechanics and cellular mechanics. Biomechanical analysis often considers how geometry, material properties, and loading conditions influence performance, injury risk, and adaptation.

Applications span medicine, sports science, robotics, and ergonomics. In medicine, biomechanical approaches aid surgical planning, orthopedics, rehabilitation, and the design of implants and prosthetics. In sports science, they support performance optimization, technique refinement, and injury prevention. In engineering, biomechanical insight informs the development of bio-inspired devices and assistive technologies.

Common methods combine experimental measurement and computational modeling. Experimental techniques include motion capture, force plates, ultrasound and elastography, and imaging to quantify motion, forces, and tissue properties. Computational tools encompass finite element analysis, multibody dynamics, and musculoskeletal modeling to simulate behavior under various conditions and to interpret complex interactions within living systems.

Biochemical and biomechanical analyses are often used together to provide a comprehensive view of how biology and mechanics shape function, health, and performance.