Undergraduate biomechanics teaching and textbooks used

[Justin Keogh]

Hi all
I have started at a new university 2.5 years ago in a country (Australia) that is undergoing considerable change in the content required of exercise and sports science degrees in terms of accreditation requirements.
Hence, my question about textbooks is especially applied to my Australian colleagues.
Currently my students use a combined book through McGraw-Hill which is predominantly drawn from
Hall, S. J. (2012). Basic biomechanics (6th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
but also has some chapters from

Hamilton, N., Weimar, W., & Luttgens, K. (2012). Kinesiology: Scientific Basis of Human Motion (12th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
So to access the free Maxtraq-Lite software as well, I was looking at perhaps just going with the Hall textbook only.
I also have obtained a copy of McGinnis, P. (2013). Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise (3rd ed.). Champaign, IL.: Human Kinetics. in which i really like the applied nature of Chapters 13-15.
What are your thoughts on these as well as other possible texts?
Thanks
Justin

Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
Bond University

[Dan Robbins]

Re: Undergraduate biomechanics teaching and textbooks used

Hi Justin,

I really like the Hall textbook and use that as one of the key textbooks for the first and second year modules that I teach. Though I find that third/final year undergraduates need something a little more advanced in some areas. I would suggest that you might get better/more useful responses if you gave a little more details. For example, what year are you teaching and is there a theme?

If you are teaching motion analysis, I would suggest Principles of biomechanics and motion analysis (Griffiths) and Biomechanics in Clinic and Research (Richards). I would also possibly recommend Qualitative diagnosis of human movement (Knudson) if you are not purely focusing on quantitative analysis.

If your teaching is more on musculoskeletal biomechanics, I would recommend Basic Biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system (Nordin and Frankel), Structure and Function of the Musculoskeletal System (Watkins) or possibly Musculoskeletal Biomechanics (Brinckmann et al.) – though that could be a little advanced depending on the level you are teaching.
I am just starting to look over ‘Biomechanics a case-based approach’ (Flanagan) which looks like there could be some good examples covered, though my first thought is the author does not make the explanations as simple as they could be (likely to annoy/frustrate students). However, I have not given the book a thorough read so I may be wrong.

Hope that helps – I will be interested to see other replies to this post!
Regards
Dan

[Alasdair Dempsey]

Re: Undergraduate biomechanics teaching and textbooks used

Hi Justin,

Good thread as I have been looking to try and work out the best book to cover everything in sufficient detail without confusing everyone. Currently my students are using Hamill & Knutzen Biomechanical Basis of Human Movement. Some students seem to like it, others hate it.

I like the look of the McGinns text, however what is making me hesitate in perscibing it is the use of imperial examples in the text. Has anyone used it outside the US and do you have any feedback on how that was received by students.

Alasdair

[Max Ditroilo]

Re: Undergraduate biomechanics teaching and textbooks used

Hi Justin,

This is another good option:
J. Richards, Biomechanics in clinic and research, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier

[Justin Keogh]

Re: Undergraduate biomechanics teaching and textbooks used

Thanks Dan, Alasdair and Max for your comments so far. The ESSA requirements we seem to have to focus on include examination of clinical gait and weight training exercise progressions and safety as the two primary practical applications, so the book(s) I go with will need to do that. I have come across a new Human Kinetics book on clinical gait analysis which I am hoping to see a copy of soon. I also love to include qualitative analyses in the courses I teach, with the final exam of my biomechanics intro course (semester 3 of the degree) having its final exam involving watching sporting and exercise vidoes and answering questions qualitatively about what they see. Hence I would like to keep much of this in their final course (semester 6) but I am also aware that I need to cover a reasonable amount of quantitative data collection and analysis concepts too.
Alasdair, I am also not sure about how the imperial units in McGinnis will be received here.
Thanks
Justin

[Justin Keogh]

Re: Undergraduate biomechanics teaching and textbooks used

Thanks Dan and Max, the online description of Biomechanics in Clinic and Research by Richards interests me as it appears to have very good student support via its online materials and covers musculoskeletal and neurological conditions as well. I am correct in that assumption? If so that would be great, as our ESSA accredited students can work within the healthcare Medicare system and work with these populations, while our sports students wish to work in high performance sport or go onto study sports physiotherapy.
Thanks
Justin

[Max Ditroilo]

Re: Undergraduate biomechanics teaching and textbooks used

Hi Justin,
Yes, you are correct with Biomechanics in Clinic and Research. The textbook itself is very clear and well written for undergraduate students. The Publisher will send you an inspection copy if you request it.

Max.

M. Ditroilo, PhD
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics
Department of Sport, Health & Exercise Science
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Don Building, Room 001A
University of Hull
HU6 7RX
UNITED KINGDOM