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The document contains tutorial questions for a Biomechanics course, focusing on lower leg flexion-extension exercises and single-leg stance mechanics. It provides detailed mechanical models, force measurements, and calculations related to the forces acting on the leg and hip joint. Specific answers to the posed questions are also included for both scenarios.

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33 views2 pages

Tutorials

The document contains tutorial questions for a Biomechanics course, focusing on lower leg flexion-extension exercises and single-leg stance mechanics. It provides detailed mechanical models, force measurements, and calculations related to the forces acting on the leg and hip joint. Specific answers to the posed questions are also included for both scenarios.

Uploaded by

davidmucheru33
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EBM403: Biomechanics I

Tutorial Questions
Dr MO Asiyo

March 3, 2025

1. Consider a person performing lower leg flexion–extension exercises from a sitting position
while wearing a weight boot. Forces acting on the leg and the mechanical model of the
system are shown in Figure 1. Point O designates the centre of rotation of the tibiofemoral
joint. A is the point of attachment of the patellar tendon to the tibia, point B is the
centre of gravity of the lower leg, and point C is the centre of gravity of the weight boot.
For this system assume that the points O, A, B, and C all lie along a straight line. The
distances between point O and points A, B, and C are measured as a = 13cm, b = 23.5
cm, and c = 53 cm, respectively. For this position of the leg, the long axis of the tibia
makes an angle β = 47◦ with the horizontal, and the line of action of the quadriceps
muscle force makes an angle θ = 17◦ with the long axis of the tibia. Furthermore, for
this position of the leg, it is estimated that the force exerted by the quadriceps muscle is
FM = 1.940 N. If the weight of the lower leg is W1 = 163 N:

(a) Determine the weight (W0 ) of the weight boot.


(b) Determine the magnitude of the reaction force (FJ ) of the tibiofemoral joint.
(c) Determine an angle ψ that the line of action the joint reaction force makes with the
horizontal.
{Answers: (a) W0 = 98.4 N; (b) FJ = 1707.5 N; (c) ψ = 60.2◦ }

(a) Forces acting on the lower leg (b) Force components, and their lever arms

Figure 1: Simple Mechanical Model

1
2. Consider a person that momentarily put the entire weight of his body on one leg when
walking or running. The forces acting on the leg and the mechanical model of the system
are shown in Figure 2a & b, respectively. Point O designates the centre of rotation of
the hip joint. A is the point of attachment of the hip abductor muscles to the femur,
point B is the centre of gravity of the leg, and C is the point of application of the ground
reaction force. The distances between point A and points O, B, and C are specified as
a = 8.6 cm, b = 34.3 cm, and c = 89.4 cm. The angles that the femoral neck and the long
axis of the femoral shaft make with the horizontal are specified as α = 43◦ and β = 79◦ ,
respectively. Furthermore, for this single-leg stance, it is estimated that the magnitude of
force exerted by the hip abductor muscles is FM = 2062.6 N and its line of action makes
an angle θ = 69◦ with the horizontal. If the magnitude of gravitational force acting on
the leg is W1 = 125 N:

(a) Determine the total weight (W ) of the person.


(b) Determine the magnitude of the reaction force (FJ ) acting at the hip joint.
(c) Determine an angle γ that the line of action of the joint reaction force makes with
the horizontal.
{Answers: (a) W = 729.7 N; (b) FJ = 2636.1 N; (c) γ = 73.7◦ }

Figure 2: Free-body diagram of the leg (a) and the geometric parameters (b)

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