Biomechanics and Motor Control: Defining Central Concepts

Biomechanics and Motor Control: Defining Central Concepts provides a thorough update to the rapidly evolving fields of biomechanics of human motion and motor control with research published in biology, psychology, physics, medicine, physical therapy, robotics, and engineering consistently breaking new ground.

This book clarifies the meaning of the most frequently used terms, and consists of four parts, with part one covering biomechanical concepts, including joint torques, stiffness and stiffness-like measures, viscosity, damping and impedance, and mechanical work and energy. Other sections deal with neurophysiological concepts used in motor control, such as muscle tone, reflex, pre-programmed reactions, efferent copy, and central pattern generator, and central motor control concepts, including redundancy and abundance, synergy, equilibrium-point hypothesis, and motor program, and posture and prehension from the field of motor behavior.

The book is organized to cover smaller concepts within the context of larger concepts. For example, internal models are covered in the chapter on motor programs. Major concepts are not only defined, but given context as to how research came to use the term in this manner.

Presents a unified approach to an interdisciplinary, fragmented areaDefines key terms for understandingIdentifies key theories, concepts, and applications across theoretical perspectivesProvides historical context for definitions and theory evolution

Preface

Part One: Biomechanical Concepts

Chapter 1. Joint Torque

Chapter 2. Stiffness and Stiffness-Like Measures

Chapter 3. Velocity-Dependent Resistance

Chapter 4. Mechanical Work and Energy

Part Two: Neurophysiological Concepts

Chapter 5. Muscle tone

Chapter 6. Reflexes

Chapter 7. Preprogrammed Reactions

Chapter 8. Efferent Copy

Chapter 9. Central Pattern Generator

Part Three: Motor Control Concepts

Chapter 10. Redundancy and Abundance

Chapter 11. Motor Synergy

Chapter 12. Equilibrium-Point Hypothesis

Chapter 13. Motor Program

Part Four: Examples of Motor Behaviors

Chapter 14. Posture

Chapter 15. Grasping

Glossary