Outline

Overview

The main emphasis of this unit is in developing practical expertise in techniques for the biomechanical analysis of human movement. Students will learn how to conduct kinematic and kinetic analyses, using video, force platforms and electromyography. Other components of this unit are aimed at further development of mathematical and problem-solving skills for the analysis of movement. Topics include static and dynamic equilibrium, calculation of centre of mass, determination of joint torques using inverse dynamics, electromyography, tissue mechanics and gait analysis.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	EXSS1018
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Peter Sinclair, peter.sinclair@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Rene Ferdinands, edouard.ferdinands@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Peter Sinclair, peter.sinclair@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Movement analysis assignment Assignment with written and non-written elements	23%	-	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Peer assessment Peer evaluation	0%	-	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Final exam	Online End of semester exam MCQ and short answer	45%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Weekly quizzes Weekly quizzes	7%	Multiple weeks	10mins
Outcomes assessed:
In-semester test	Online Mid semester exam MCQ and short answer	25%	Week 08	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Mid semester exam: Plenty of time will be given so that time will not be an issue
Assignment development milestones: A number of progress milestones will be set during semester to keep you on track. The marks from these milestones will be allocated just for finishing each task on time.
Movement analysis assignment: Group assignment where students film, analyse and interpret a gait analysis task.
Peer Assessment: Assessment of group member’s contribution to project. 5% penalty on assignment if not submitted.
End of semester exam: Short answer and multiple choice exam.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Week 1 A. Introduction; B. Principles of filming	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Week 2. A. 2D Kinematic data collection procedures; B. Body segments/centre of mass	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Week 2 Practical. Introduction to Video Photography	Practical (1 hr)
Week 03	Week 3. A. Stress strain relationships; B. Biomechanics of bone	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Week 3 Practical. Centre of mass	Practical (1 hr)
Week 04	Week 4. A. Biomechanics of soft tissues and injuries; B. Kinetics - equilibrium	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Week 4 Tutorial. Kinetics/tissue	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Week 5. A. Biomechanics of exercise; B. Signals and filtering	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Week 5 Practical. Assignment Filming	Practical (1 hr)
Week 06	Week 6 A. Electromyography 1: introduction and data collection; B. Electromyography 2: processing/interpretation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Week 6 Practical. Digitising	Practical (2 hr)
Week 07	Week 7. Qualitative analysis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Week 7 Practical. Electromyography	Practical (2 hr)
Week 09	Week 9. Kinetics - inverse dynamics	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Week 9 Practical. Kinematic analysis	Practical (1 hr)
Week 10	Week 10. Dynamics of athletic motion	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Week 10 Tutorial. Inverse dynamics	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Week 11. A. Review mid-semester exam; B. Gait 1	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Week 12. Gait 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Week 12 Tutorial. Dynamics/gait	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Week 13. Review of semester	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Week 13 Tutorial. Revision	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance requirements: It is expected that you will attend all scheduled lectures, practicals and tutorials. You will have been allocated a specific tutorial class time when you enrolled in this unit. It is very important that you attend your allocated class as we are unable to oversubscribe students to tutorial classes. For this particular unit, work on a practical assignment will take place in groups during the practical sessions. Marks will be deducted from your assignment if you are not present when this work is done.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Winter DA (1990). Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement, 4thEdition, Hoboken NJ: John Wiley.
Nordin M, Frankel VH (2001). Basic Biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system(3rd Ed). Philadelphia: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins. Kirtley K (2006). Clinical Gait Analysis: Theory and Practice, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand principles of data collection for biomechanics, especially with regard to sampling theory and the principles of filming movement for quantitative analysis
LO2. solve kinetic problems to estimate loads applied to the human body during exercise
LO3. collect and interpret electromyography signals to understand the relative load and fatigue level experienced by muscles
LO4. understand how the mechanical properties of biological tissues interact with loads applied to the body to cause acute and chronic injuries
LO5. demonstrate familiarity with the mechanical principles associated with normal and pathological gait, and how these change across the lifespan.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards - 1.3.5. Demonstrate skill in conducting and interpreting basic biomechanical measurements relevant to clients’ needs.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards - 1.3.1. Describe biomechanical principles and how they relate specifically to the analysis of various forms of human movement to demonstrate an understanding of: 1.3.1.1 health, exercise and sport from both performance-enhancement and injury- prevention perspectives. 1.3.1.2 injury, disability and disease as they relate to movement. 1.3.1.3 a scientific approach to ascertaining the aetiology of injury. 1.3.1.4 the physical effects of human interaction with equipment and the environment. 1.3.3. Explain the nature of biomechanical problems and how qualitative and/or quantitative analysis can be interpreted to develop and implement intervention strategies relevant to the movement context.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards - 3.3.6. Integrate knowledge of and skills in exercise physiology with other study areas of exercise science.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards - 1.3.1. Describe biomechanical principles and how they relate specifically to the analysis of various forms of human movement to demonstrate an understanding of: 1.3.1.1 health, exercise and sport from both performance-enhancement and injury- prevention perspectives. 1.3.1.2 injury, disability and disease as they relate to movement. 1.3.1.3 a scientific approach to ascertaining the aetiology of injury. 1.3.1.4 the physical effects of human interaction with equipment and the environment. 1.3.8. Integrate knowledge of and skills in biomechanics with other study areas of exercise science.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards - 1.3.1. Describe biomechanical principles and how they relate specifically to the analysis of various forms of human movement to demonstrate an understanding of: 1.3.1.1 health, exercise and sport from both performance-enhancement and injury- prevention perspectives. 1.3.1.2 injury, disability and disease as they relate to movement. 1.3.1.3 a scientific approach to ascertaining the aetiology of injury. 1.3.1.4 the physical effects of human interaction with equipment and the environment. 1.3.2. Apply the principles of the biomechanical analysis of human movement in the context of health, exercise, sport and activities of daily living in a variety of populations. 1.3.4. Determine when basic movement analysis can add value to the needs of a client.

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assignment has been continuously developed in response to student feedback

Additional information

Student Administration Manual on the Faculty of Health Sciences

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

EXSS2018: Biomechanical Analysis of Movement

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links