This book addresses instruments, methodologies and diagnostic methods used to evaluate and diagnose human movement, locomotion and physical status in general. Starting from historical perspective, the idea of understanding human locomotion by applying technical measurement devices and incorporating measurement data into physical representation of gross body movement is presented and explained, an approach known as inverse dynamics. With this approach as a kind of umbrella concept, components of measurement systems including relevant signal and data processing methods are described. Modern instruments to capture body movement by measuring its kinematics, kinetics and surface electromyography (sEMG) are thus described; all systems being used dominantly-if not exclusively-in a movement analysis laboratory setting. Focusing mainly on human posture and gait, but including also examples of movement patterns from selected kinesiological and sports activities, the book attempts to present essentials of biomechanics and biomedical engineering approach to this subject matter. It illustrates how data collected and elaborated by modern engineering technology can complement traditional expert knowledge of a kinesiologist or a medical doctor. The book is applicable in the fields of sports, physical activities, as well as in medical diagnostics and rehabilitation. The examples of this book's practical application might be in evaluation of efficiency of human gait, in evaluation of skeletal muscle fatigue in physical exercise, in biomechanical diagnostics of traumatological conditions requiring orthopaedic treatment and the like. This book can also be used in planning and executing research endeavours, particularly in a clinical context as a reference for various diagnostics procedures. It presents the lecture notes of a course carrying the same name within Medical Studies in English at the University of Zagreb for more than a decade.

The importance of measurements for the proper assessment of human locomotion is increasingly being recognized. The fields of application encompass both healthy and pathological locomotion as encountered in rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, kinesiology, sports medicine, and the like. Measurement of Human Locomotion provides an up-to-date description of the instrument systems used for measurement of: kinematics of human movement; kinetic quantities experienced by the human body in contact with the ground; and, myoelectric changes associated with locomotor activity. Physical principles behind the operation of various measurement systems are emphasized, as well as signal processing issues that must be addressed in order to obtain and use quantitative measurement variables in biomechanics. The book explains how measurement data are acquired, processed and presented to the user in the environment of a modern, computer-based laboratory. The ultimate aim is to contribute to the processes of the diagnosis and treatment of locomotion disorders. The purpose of Measurement of Human Locomotion is to provide a concise but comprehensive presentation of the systems used for the measurement of human locomotion, with a view to the assessment and diagnosis of the phenomenon.

The importance of measurements for the proper assessment of human locomotion is increasingly being recognized. The fields of application encompass both healthy and pathological locomotion as encountered in rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, kinesiology, sports medicine, and the like.
Measurement of Human Locomotion provides an up-to-date description of the instrument systems used for measurement of: kinematics of human movement; kinetic quantities experienced by the human body in contact with the ground; and, myoelectric changes associated with locomotor activity.

Physical principles behind the operation of various measurement systems are emphasized, as well as signal processing issues that must be addressed in order to obtain and use quantitative measurement variables in biomechanics. The book explains how measurement data are acquired, processed and presented to the user in the environment of a modern, computer-based laboratory. The ultimate aim is to contribute to the processes of the diagnosis and treatment of locomotion disorders.

The purpose of Measurement of Human Locomotion is to provide a concise but comprehensive presentation of the systems used for the measurement of human locomotion, with a view to the assessment and diagnosis of the phenomenon.

This book addresses instruments, methodologies and diagnostic methods used to evaluate and diagnose human movement, locomotion and physical status in general. Starting from historical perspective, the idea of understanding human locomotion by applying technical measurement devices and incorporating measurement data into physical representation of gross body movement is presented and explained, an approach known as inverse dynamics. With this approach as a kind of umbrella concept, components of measurement systems including relevant signal and data processing methods are described. Modern instruments to capture body movement by measuring its kinematics, kinetics and surface electromyography (sEMG) are thus described; all systems being used dominantly-if not exclusively-in a movement analysis laboratory setting. Focusing mainly on human posture and gait, but including also examples of movement patterns from selected kinesiological and sports activities, the book attempts to present essentials of biomechanics and biomedical engineering approach to this subject matter. It illustrates how data collected and elaborated by modern engineering technology can complement traditional expert knowledge of a kinesiologist or a medical doctor. The book is applicable in the fields of sports, physical activities, as well as in medical diagnostics and rehabilitation. The examples of this book's practical application might be in evaluation of efficiency of human gait, in evaluation of skeletal muscle fatigue in physical exercise, in biomechanical diagnostics of traumatological conditions requiring orthopaedic treatment and the like. This book can also be used in planning and executing research endeavours, particularly in a clinical context as a reference for various diagnostics procedures. It presents the lecture notes of a course carrying the same name within Medical Studies in English at the University of Zagreb for more than a decade.