- Email: [email protected]
Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system
872
Boot reviews / Journal of Biomechanics 35 (2002) 871–872
Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system M. Nordin and V.H. Frankel, Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, ISBN 0-68330247-7 This book is the third edition of the very popular text from Nordin and Frankel. Following the success of the 1980 and 1989 editions, this text is a welcome extension of the classic formula of combining anatomy, biology and mechanics into a text which is primarily geared to students who have little knowledge of mechanics or engineering and who are primarily working in therapeutic or clinical environments. The book has contributions from 36 internationally respected contributors and is split into three fundamental sections. Part 1 concerns tissues and structures of the musculoskeletal system and is organised into five chapters (bone, cartilage, tendons/ligaments, nerves and muscle). Each chapter describes the material composition followed by the response of the material to loads. The use of simple and clear diagrams helps to make the material flow in a logical manner and is easy to understand. A useful summary completes the text of each chapter and is followed by flow charts depicting the inter-linking of fundamental aspects covered in the chapter. For example, the mechanisms associated with wear of articular cartilage are laid out so that the various aspects can be understood. These flow charts are particularly well presented and would form excellent teaching and discussion platforms for student tutorial sessions. Part 2 examines biomechanics of each major articulation and follows a similar format to part 1. While the description of each joint is clear and interesting, the text is very limited in that the three-dimensional considerations are not given the priority which they deserve. In particular, the chapter on the hip joint performs very simple vertical ground reaction force analysis and only considers the coronal plane analysis for abduction control. This is a serious limitation since flexion/ extension and internal/external rotation effects are of primary concern for clinical personnel. Nevertheless
PII: S 0 0 2 1 - 9 2 9 0 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 1 6 - 7
these chapters in part 2 do represent a good source of cited literature so that energetic students can investigate particular concepts in their own time. The third part of the book is labelled ‘applied biomechanics’ and deals with 4 subject topics, namely, fracture fixation, arthroplasty, standing/sitting and gait. While each of these subjects is a huge area of science in itself, the authors do introduce the fundamental aspects of each subject in a logical and succinct manner. The reader is made aware of the parameters which have to be addressed and there is a useful list of references at the end of each chapter. This part of the book is particularly useful in showing the reader how applications of the basic methods of biomechanics can be used to give a deeper understanding of clinical situations in terms of diagnosis, therapy and benefit. To this end, the structure of the book ends in a launch pad where students should have enthusiasm to apply their basic learning to their own area of interest. The aim of this book is to ‘acquaint the reader with the force–motion relationship within the musculoskeletal systemy’. The editors have structured the book logically and have included many useful diagrams and flow charts. The reader of this text will gain a good understanding of the concepts of biomechanics but will not have the tools required to perform useful biomechanical analysis of particular situations. Further reading and study will be required to reach this level. However, this text will form a useful introductory primer for students and clinical personnel who wish to embark on a journey of learning and understanding of the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system. To this end this text will be useful in accelerating the learning curve of students and should pave the way for application to clinical situations. A.C. Nicol Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, 106 Rottenrow, Glasgow G4 0NW, UK E-mail address: [email protected]
Boot reviews / Journal of Biomechanics 35 (2002) 871–872
Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system M. Nordin and V.H. Frankel, Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, ISBN 0-68330247-7 This book is the third edition of the very popular text from Nordin and Frankel. Following the success of the 1980 and 1989 editions, this text is a welcome extension of the classic formula of combining anatomy, biology and mechanics into a text which is primarily geared to students who have little knowledge of mechanics or engineering and who are primarily working in therapeutic or clinical environments. The book has contributions from 36 internationally respected contributors and is split into three fundamental sections. Part 1 concerns tissues and structures of the musculoskeletal system and is organised into five chapters (bone, cartilage, tendons/ligaments, nerves and muscle). Each chapter describes the material composition followed by the response of the material to loads. The use of simple and clear diagrams helps to make the material flow in a logical manner and is easy to understand. A useful summary completes the text of each chapter and is followed by flow charts depicting the inter-linking of fundamental aspects covered in the chapter. For example, the mechanisms associated with wear of articular cartilage are laid out so that the various aspects can be understood. These flow charts are particularly well presented and would form excellent teaching and discussion platforms for student tutorial sessions. Part 2 examines biomechanics of each major articulation and follows a similar format to part 1. While the description of each joint is clear and interesting, the text is very limited in that the three-dimensional considerations are not given the priority which they deserve. In particular, the chapter on the hip joint performs very simple vertical ground reaction force analysis and only considers the coronal plane analysis for abduction control. This is a serious limitation since flexion/ extension and internal/external rotation effects are of primary concern for clinical personnel. Nevertheless
PII: S 0 0 2 1 - 9 2 9 0 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 1 6 - 7
these chapters in part 2 do represent a good source of cited literature so that energetic students can investigate particular concepts in their own time. The third part of the book is labelled ‘applied biomechanics’ and deals with 4 subject topics, namely, fracture fixation, arthroplasty, standing/sitting and gait. While each of these subjects is a huge area of science in itself, the authors do introduce the fundamental aspects of each subject in a logical and succinct manner. The reader is made aware of the parameters which have to be addressed and there is a useful list of references at the end of each chapter. This part of the book is particularly useful in showing the reader how applications of the basic methods of biomechanics can be used to give a deeper understanding of clinical situations in terms of diagnosis, therapy and benefit. To this end, the structure of the book ends in a launch pad where students should have enthusiasm to apply their basic learning to their own area of interest. The aim of this book is to ‘acquaint the reader with the force–motion relationship within the musculoskeletal systemy’. The editors have structured the book logically and have included many useful diagrams and flow charts. The reader of this text will gain a good understanding of the concepts of biomechanics but will not have the tools required to perform useful biomechanical analysis of particular situations. Further reading and study will be required to reach this level. However, this text will form a useful introductory primer for students and clinical personnel who wish to embark on a journey of learning and understanding of the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system. To this end this text will be useful in accelerating the learning curve of students and should pave the way for application to clinical situations. A.C. Nicol Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, 106 Rottenrow, Glasgow G4 0NW, UK E-mail address: [email protected]