585.612.81 - Biomechanical Engineering in Sports

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Course Modules on the left menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Modules run for a period of seven (7) days. You should regularly check the Assignments and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Class Introduction
• The Science of Force Production
• Forces and Torques
• Relationship Between Forces, Torques, and Movement
• Deformable Mechanics
• Biomechanics of Running
• Biomechanics of Baseball
• Biomechanics of Golf
• Biomechanics of Impact Sports
• Brain Injury Biomechanics and American Football
• Human Performance Monitoring in Sports
• Technology and Techniques in Sports Biomechanics

Course Goals

To learn the biomechanical principles, techniques and technology used in real-world sports biomechanics applications in order to understand how engineering can help prevent injuries and maximize sports performance for professional and amateur athletes across the world.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Apply mechanical and biomedical engineering principles used in the field of sports biomechanics
• Describe the relationships between mechanics, physiology, and anatomy that can result in sports injury and how to apply those concepts for rehabilitation and performance.
• Apply mechanical and physiological data from real-world sporting examples to analyze risk of injury and/or outline steps for performance improvement
• Identify the tools, technologies, and methods used in the sports biomechanics field at large.
• Use commercially available technology to analyze biomechanical features in common sporting movements

Textbooks

All readings are available online through eReserves. Three main textbooks are used for the course and available to JHU ABE EP students for free and can be accessed online through eReserves. These textbooks are shown below:

1. Özkaya, N., Leger, D., Goldsheyder, D., & Nordin, M. (2016). Fundamentals of biomechanics: equilibrium, motion, and deformation. Springer.
2. Uchida, T. K., & Delp, S. L. (2021). Biomechanics of movement: the science of sports, robotics, and rehabilitation. Mit Press.
3. McGinnis, P. M. (2013). Biomechanics of sport and exercise. Human Kinetics.

Required Software

MATLAB

You will need access to a recent version of MATLAB (anything later than 2023a). A license is provided at no cost to you, through JHU.

Visit the JHU IT Services Portal. Log in with your JHED ID and type “Matlab” in the search bar. Click on “Matlab for Students” in the search results and follow the instructions provided.

Camera Collection Software, Drivers, and Analysis Software

You will be utilizing course hardware (high speed camera) to collect data for lab activities and for the final report. You will be required to download and use various software and drivers to use the camera. Various prelab documents and/or recordings will be posted throughout the course.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 7–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 2–3 hours per week), listening to the audio annotated slide presentations and self-guided multiple-choice questions (approximately 2–3 hours per week), and various homework assignments (approximately 3–4 hours per week; problem sets, guided MATLAB exercises, and literature critiques).

This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:

Forum Discussions (28% of Final Grade Calculation)

Forum discussions are assigned in modules 1(2 discussion prompts),2-13 and will be posted in the Discussions section. You are responsible for carefully reading all assigned material and being prepared for discussion.

Post your initial response to the discussion questions by the evening of day 4 for that module week. Posting a response to the discussion question is part one of your grade for module discussions (i.e., Timeliness).

Part two of your grade for module discussion is your interaction (i.e., responding to classmate postings with thoughtful responses) with at least two classmates (i.e., Critical Thinking). Just posting your response to a discussion question is not sufficient; we want you to interact with your classmates. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings. Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive. When prompted, please use the 3C+Q (Compliment, comment, connect, and ask a question) format in your first response to classmates

We will monitor module discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as discussions are posted.

Participation is evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Timeliness (50%)
2. Critical Thinking (50%)

The percent of possible credit for each of the 14 assignments will be multiplied by 2% of your total grade, as graded forum discussions make up 28% of the total grade for this course.

Weekly graded assignment (40% of Final Grade Calculation)

Weekly graded assignments will be assigned for modules 1-12. These include problem sets as well as more applied practical lab activities. Make sure to include a cover sheet with your name and assignment identifier (e.g., Module 2, Problem Set). Also include your name and a page number indicator (i.e., page x of y) on each page of your submissions. You may submit an edited word doc, or a scanned/photographed copy of your homework assignment (provided the work is legible). For each problem, please state any assumptions/context/approach upfront before solving the problem. Make sure to show your work using figures and full sentences!

All assignments are due according to the date given in the assignment

Late submissions will be reduced by one letter grade for each week late (no exceptions without prior coordination with the instructors).

Quantitative assignments are evaluated by the following grading elements:

For each problem in the assignment, full credit will need

1. Each part of question is answered (25%)
2. Problem assumptions/context/approach are clearly stated (25%)
3. Intermediate derivations and calculations are provided (30%)
4. Answer is technically correct and is clearly indicated (20%)

Qualitative assignments are evaluated by the following grading elements:

For each problem in the assignment, full credit will need

1. Each part of question is answered (25%)
2. Writing quality and technical accuracy (50%) (Writing is expected to meet or exceed accepted graduate-level English and scholarship standards. That is, all assignments will be graded on grammar and style as well as content.)
3. Rationale for answer is provided (25%)

Lab assignments will have submission instructions in the document and will have points assigned to each prompt. Points received will be divided by total points for a grade out of 100

For each problem in the assignment general quantitative and qualitative guidelines, shown above, should be followed. Correctness and quality of data, videos, plots and code will be considered. Title and label all plots and code submitted.

The percent of possible credit for each of the 12 assignments will be multiplied by 3.33% of your total grade, as weekly graded assignments make up 40% of the total grade for this course.

Final Project and Presentation (32% of Final Grade Calculation)

A course project will be assigned two modules into the course. Students will be required to select a topic (to be submitted and approved by instructor) by module 7. The project is to address a problem or opportunity in the sports biomechanics field. The project should include data collection and analysis. The project is open-ended but must have the following items:

1. Problem description/opportunity statement
2. Detailed description of an anatomy/physiology of interest
3. Data collection from sporting event/activity
4. Data processing/data analysis
5. Discussion

Students can deliver a knowledge product (e.g. answering a research question) or deliver a software product (e.g. algorithm or model) for their project. Students will be prompted to submit items at various points in the semester to ensure timeliness or progress and quality of results. Students will be required to submit a stand-alone ppt, fully describing the projects’ motivation, methods, and results, with associated code and data for full credit.

The last module of class will have 4 associated presentation times where students will be required to present a 15 minute presentation fully describing their project and results. A more detailed rubric will be sent out during the course

The percent of possible credit for each portion of the assignment will be added up and multiplied by 32% of your total grade

Grading Policy

Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. 

We generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

100-98 = A+
97-94 = A
93-90 = A−
89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B−
79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C−
69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
<63 = F

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Item	% of Grade
Discussions	28%
Weekly Graded Assignments	40%
Course Project	32%

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course. 

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Our courses are designed with a proactive approach to accessibility to minimize the need for disability disclosure and accommodation requests, but we recognize that you may need additional support. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions, and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.  For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact EP Student Disability Services at ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu. 

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. For a full description of the code please visit the Student Conduct Code website.

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.