535.667.81 - Biomechanics of Human Movement

Expanded Course Description

From this course, students will learn the methods and underlying principles for the modeling and analysis of human movement.  The course will begin with the fundamentals of human movement from walking through running.  Next, the underlying biology and stimuli needed to produce movement through the coordinated action of the musculoskeletal system will be covered.  Typical methods used to quantify the kinematics and kinetics of motion will be taught along with optimization techniques needed for analysis.  Finally, the simulation of muscle driven locomotion will be taught for walking and running, as well as some discussion of the role of assistive devices.

Course Structure

Course Topics

Course Topics

• Introduction to Biomechanics of Human Movement
• Fundamentals of Walking
• Fundamentals of Running
• Muscle Biology and Force
• Muscle Architecture and Force
• Musculoskeletal Geometry
• Quantifying Movement
• Inverse Dynamics
• Muscle Force Optimization
• Muscle-Driven Simulations
• Muscle-Driven Walking
• Muscle-Driven Running
• Moving Forward

Course Goals

This course aims to provide students with a foundation in the principles that underlie the evaluation of the biomechanics of human movement. Many students will move on to develop computational models to evaluate human movement that will leverage powerful tools to generate answers. These answers are only as good as their interpretation. Knowledge obtained from this course will allow the student to be a well-informed user of these tools, and to apply them responsibly.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Apply the fundamental principles that underlie human motion from walking through running.
• Explain the role anatomy and neurophysiology in the generation of human motion, including an understanding of how these factors are analyzed.
• Apply experimental methods to characterize human motion.
• Articulate the limitations of laboratory measurements used to model the musculoskeletal motion.
• Utilize basic principles of optimization to analyze human motion.
• Evaluate human motion based upon typical laboratory measurements.

Textbooks

Textbook:
Biomechanics of Movement
The Science of Sports, Robotics, and Rehabilitation
Authors:
Thomas K. Uchida and Scott L. Delp

Publisher:
The MIT Press
Details:
400 pp., 8 x 9 in, 229 color illus.
Published:
January 12, 2021

Print ISBN:
9780262044202, 026204420X
eText ISBN:
9780262359191, 0262359197

Publisher link:
https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/biomechanics-movement
--or--
https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262044202/

Student Coursework Requirements

Evaluation and Grading

• Participation (13) (15%): For each module (except Module 14), a question, or topic of discussion will be raised. Students will participate in that discussion and receive a grade for participation based on how comments demonstrate an understanding of the material, and the timeliness of the comments keeping up with the pace of the course.
  
• Individual Assignments (13) (15% of total grade): Graded assessments will be given for each module of the course (except Module 14). These assessments will include questions and problems that will serve as a knowledge check of materials covered. Each assessment will be equally weighted.
• Quizzes (4) (15% of total grade): Quizzes will be administered for modules 1 through 3, 4 through 6, 7 through 9 and 10 through 12. The material on these quizzes will be similar to the individual assignments, but will require written answers.
• Mid-Term Exam (25% of total grade): A Mid-Term Exam will be administered with the 8th module. This exam will cover modules 1 through 6, which are the first two sections (six chapters that cover Locomotion and Production of Movement) of Uchida & Delp 2021. Many questions will be taken from the Learning Activities and Assessments from each module, so successful completion of those problem sets will be a good indicator of success on the mid-term exam.
  
• Final Exam (30% of total grade): A Final Exam will be administered following for the 14th module. This exam will focus modules 7 through 12, with some materials from Module 13, which are the last two sections (seven chapters that cover Analysis of Movement and Muscle-Driven Locomotion) of Uchida & Delp 2021. Many questions will be taken from the Learning Activities and Assessments from each module, so successful completion of those problem sets will be a good indicator of success on the mid-term exam. While it is not the intent of this exam to explicitly test material covered by the Mid-Term Exam, those concepts will serve as a foundation for material covered in the Final Exam.

Grading Policy

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 (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/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. 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 Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, 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 following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

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.