Foreword from a Clinical Biomechanist, Applied Physiologist and Prosthetist teaching graduate students in Prosthetics & Orthotics. While there are many books on Biomechanics, arguably the quintessential science of limb prosthetics, none addresses the fundamental principles in sufficient detail and depth to be practically useful to the prosthetist, rehabilitation specialist or researcher. Dr. Pitkin's monograph is an exemplary collection of theoretical principles from his research and o- ers, presented in its clinical and applied biomechanics form. The textbook provides an excellent overview of the many facets of lower limb prosthetic design and engineering for the ardent clinician researcher and student. The book delves into many of the basic concepts that are required knowledge for the clinician and the scientist to have as the foundation for their work. Dr. Pitkin has an e- quent manner in which he reflects on the history and literature to tell the storied evolution of prosthetic design . He takes the reader on a journey to consider his theories, which have substantive foundations to contemplate. By the end of chapter one, we have the basic h- tory and an appreciation for the rationale behind the "rolling joint ankle" with evidence to support his theoretical views.

The reader will find in this book a new approach to improving health. The author has called this approach "sanomechanics," combining the Latin sanus (healthy, sound) and mechanicus (science of the motion of bodies subjected to forces). The focus of sanomechanics is on exercising with an understanding of the biomechanical consequences of the actions. This understanding is based on the author's theory of the floating skeleton, which postulates a hydraulic connection of synovial joints. The theory explains the greater or lesser success of any exercise utilizing the ability of the human skeleton to absorb and transform forces and moments from the body segments and the environment. This ability vanishes with age and illnesses, and the deeper our understanding of the nature of skeletal functioning is, the better we shall be able to improve, protect, and prolong the skeleton's health.