Download or read book Fundamentals of Neuromechanics written by Francisco J. Valero-Cuevas and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-09-07 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a conceptual and computational framework to study how the nervous system exploits the anatomical properties of limbs to produce mechanical function. The study of the neural control of limbs has historically emphasized the use of optimization to find solutions to the muscle redundancy problem. That is, how does the nervous system select a specific muscle coordination pattern when the many muscles of a limb allow for multiple solutions? I revisit this problem from the emerging perspective of neuromechanics that emphasizes finding and implementing families of feasible solutions, instead of a single and unique optimal solution. Those families of feasible solutions emerge naturally from the interactions among the feasible neural commands, anatomy of the limb, and constraints of the task. Such alternative perspective to the neural control of limb function is not only biologically plausible, but sheds light on the most central tenets and debates in the fields of neural control, robotics, rehabilitation, and brain-body co-evolutionary adaptations. This perspective developed from courses I taught to engineers and life scientists at Cornell University and the University of Southern California, and is made possible by combining fundamental concepts from mechanics, anatomy, mathematics, robotics and neuroscience with advances in the field of computational geometry. Fundamentals of Neuromechanics is intended for neuroscientists, roboticists, engineers, physicians, evolutionary biologists, athletes, and physical and occupational therapists seeking to advance their understanding of neuromechanics. Therefore, the tone is decidedly pedagogical, engaging, integrative, and practical to make it accessible to people coming from a broad spectrum of disciplines. I attempt to tread the line between making the mathematical exposition accessible to life scientists, and convey the wonder and complexity of neuroscience to engineers and computational scientists. While no one approach can hope to definitively resolve the important questions in these related fields, I hope to provide you with the fundamental background and tools to allow you to contribute to the emerging field of neuromechanics.

Download or read book Biomechanics of Anthropomorphic Systems written by Gentiane Venture and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-08-01 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mechanical laws of motion were applied very early for better understanding anthropomorphic action as suggested in advance by Newton «For from hence are easily deduced the forces of machines, which are compounded of wheels, pullies, levers, cords, and weights, ascending directly or obliquely, and other mechanical powers; as also the force of the tendons to move the bones of animals». In the 19th century E.J. Marey and E. Muybridge introduced chronophotography to scientifically investigate animal and human movements. They opened the field of motion analysis by being the first scientists to correlate ground reaction forces with kinetics. Despite of the apparent simplicity of a given skilled movement, the organization of the underlying neuro-musculo-skeletal system remains unknown. A reason is the redundancy of the motor system: a given action can be realized by different muscle and joint activity patterns, and the same underlying activity may give rise to several movements. After the pioneering work of N. Bernstein in the 60’s on the existence of motor synergies, numerous researchers «walking on the border» of their disciplines tend to discover laws and principles underlying the human motions and how the brain reduces the redundancy of the system. These synergies represent the fundamental building blocks composing complex movements. In robotics, researchers face the same redundancy and complexity challenges as the researchers in life sciences. This book gathers works of roboticists and researchers in biomechanics in order to promote an interdisciplinary research on anthropomorphic systems at large and on humanoid robotics in particular.

Download or read book Spinal Interneurons written by Lyandysha Viktorovna Zholudeva and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2022-11-29 with total page 476 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The spinal cord is comprised of four types of neurons: motor neurons, pre-ganglionic neurons, ascending projection neurons, and spinal interneurons. Interneurons are neurons that process information within local circuits, and have an incredible ability for neuroplasticity, whether due to persistent activity, neural injury, or in response to disease. Although, by definition, their axons are restricted to the same structure as the soma (in this case the spinal cord), spinal interneurons are capable of sprouting and rewiring entire neural circuits, and contribute to some restoration of disrupted neural communication after injury to the spinal cord (i.e., "bypassing the lesion site). Spinal Interneurons provides a focused overview of how scientists classify interneurons in general, the techniques used to identify subsets of interneurons, their roles in specific neural circuits, and the scientific evidence for their neuroplasticity. Understanding the capacity for neuroplasticity and identity of specific spinal interneurons that are optimal for recovery, may help determine cellular candidates for developing therapies. Spinal Interneurons provides neuroscientists, clinicians, and trainees a reference book exclusively concentrating on spinal interneurons, the techniques and experiments employed to identify and study these cells as part of normal and compromised neural circuits, and highlights the therapeutic potential of these cells by presenting the relevant pre-clinical and clinical work to date. People in industry will also benefit from this book, which compiles the latest in therapeutic strategies for targeting spinal interneurons, what considerations there are for the development and use of treatments, and how such treatments can not only be translated to the clinic, but how existing treatments should be appropriately reverse-translated to the bench. - Comprehensive overview of techniques used to identify, characterize, and classify spinal interneurons and their role in neural circuits - Description of the role that spinal interneurons play in mediating plasticity after compromise to spinal neural networks - In-depth discussion of therapeutic potential of spinal interneurons for spinal cord injury and/or disease

Download or read book Robotics in Education written by Wilfried Lepuschitz and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-09-01 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This proceedings volume comprises the latest achievements in research and development in educational robotics presented at the 9th International Conference on Robotics in Education (RiE) held in Qawra, St. Paul's Bay, Malta, during April 18-20, 2018. Researchers and educators will find valuable methodologies and tools for robotics in education that encourage learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) through the design, creation and programming of tangible artifacts for creating personally meaningful objects and addressing real-world societal needs. This also involves the introduction of technologies ranging from robotics platforms to programming environments and languages. Extensive evaluation results are presented that highlight the impact of robotics on the students’ interests and competence development. The presented approaches cover the whole educative range from elementary school to the university level in both formal as well as informal settings.

Download or read book The Role of the Interactions via Movements in the Spatial and Temporal Representation of External Objects written by Daya Shankar Gupta and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2022-09-12 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Neuromechanics of Human Movement written by Roger M. Enoka and published by Human Kinetics Publishers. This book was released on 2002 with total page 584 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Focuses on the examination of forces that create entire body motion, and develops the biomechanical knowledge of the reader.

Download or read book The Computational Neurobiology of Reaching and Pointing written by Reza Shadmehr and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2004-10-28 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An introduction to the computational biology of reaching and pointing, with an emphasis on motor learning. Neuroscience involves the study of the nervous system, and its topics range from genetics to inferential reasoning. At its heart, however, lies a search for understanding how the environment affects the nervous system and how the nervous system, in turn, empowers us to interact with and alter our environment. This empowerment requires motor learning. The Computational Neurobiology of Reaching and Pointing addresses the neural mechanisms of one important form of motor learning. The authors integrate material from the computational, behavioral, and neural sciences of motor control that is not available in any other single source. The result is a unified, comprehensive model of reaching and pointing. The book is intended to be used as a text by graduate students in both neuroscience and bioengineering and as a reference source by experts in neuroscience, robotics, and other disciplines. The book begins with an overview of the evolution, anatomy, and physiology of the motor system, including the mechanisms for generating force and maintaining limb stability. The sections that follow, "Computing Locations and Displacements", "Skills, Adaptations, and Trajectories", and "Predictions, Decisions, and Flexibility", present a theory of sensorially guided reaching and pointing that evolves organically based on computational principles rather than a traditional structure-by-structure approach. The book also includes five appendixes that provide brief refreshers on fundamentals of biology, mathematics, physics, and neurophysiology, as well as a glossary of relevant terms. The authors have also made supplemental materials available on the Internet. These web documents provide source code for simulations, step-by-step derivations of certain mathematical formulations, and expanded explanations of some concepts.

Download or read book Fundamentals and Assessment Tools for Occupational Ergonomics written by William S. Marras and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2006-02-02 with total page 1025 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Completely revised and updated, taking the scientific rigor to a whole new level, the second edition of the Occupational Ergonomics Handbook is now available in two volumes. This new organization demonstrates the enormous amount of advances that have occurred in the field since the publication of the first edition. The second edition not only provi

Download or read book Nano and Cell Mechanics written by Horacio D. Espinosa and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-12-12 with total page 519 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research in nano and cell mechanics has received much attention from the scientific community as a result of society needs and government initiatives to accelerate developments in materials, manufacturing, electronics, medicine and healthcare, energy, and the environment. Engineers and scientists are currently engaging in increasingly complex scientific problems that require interdisciplinary approaches. In this regard, studies in this field draw from fundamentals in atomistic scale phenomena, biology, statistical and continuum mechanics, and multiscale modeling and experimentation. As a result, contributions in these areas are spread over a large number of specialized journals, which prompted the Editors to assemble this book. Nano and Cell Mechanics: Fundamentals and Frontiers brings together many of the new developments in the field for the first time, and covers fundamentals and frontiers in mechanics to accelerate developments in nano- and bio-technologies. Key features: • Provides an overview of recent advances in nano and cell mechanics. • Covers experimental, analytical, and computational tools used to investigate biological and nanoscale phenomena. • Covers fundamentals and frontiers in mechanics to accelerate developments in nano- and bio-technologies. • Presents multiscale-multiphysics modeling and experimentation techniques. • Examines applications in materials, manufacturing, electronics, medicine and healthcare. Nano and Cell Mechanics: Fundamentals and Frontiers is written by internationally recognized experts in theoretical and applied mechanics, applied physics, chemistry, and biology. It is an invaluable reference for graduate students of nano- and bio-technologies, researchers in academia and industry who are working in nano and cell mechanics, and practitioners who are interested in learning about the latest analysis tools. The book can also serve as a text for graduate courses in theoretical and applied mechanics, mechanical engineering, materials science, and applied physics.

Download or read book NPTI s Fundamentals of Fitness and Personal Training written by Henriques, Tim and published by Human Kinetics. This book was released on 2014-08-13 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This text makes the principles and theories of fitness and personal training accessible for all readers, helping them understand how the body works and responds to exercise and how to create exercise programs that help clients accomplish their fitness goals.

Download or read book Fundamentals of Motor Control written by Mark L. Latash and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2012-08-08 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Motor control is a relatively young field of research exploring how the nervous system produces purposeful, coordinated movements in its interaction with the body and the environment through conscious and unsconscious thought. Many books purporting to cover motor control have veered off course to examine biomechanics and physiology rather than actual control, leaving a gap in the literature. This book covers all the major perspectives in motor control, with a balanced approach. There are chapters explicitly dedicated to control theory, to dynamical systems, to biomechanics, to different behaviors, and to motor learning, including case studies. - Reviews current research in motor control - Contains balanced perspectives among neuroscience, psychology, physics and biomechanics - Highlights controversies in the field - Discusses neurophysiology, control theory, biomechanics, and dynamical systems under one cover - Links principles of motor control to everyday behaviors - Includes case studies delving into topics in more detail

Download or read book Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement written by David A. Winter and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2009-10-12 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The classic book on human movement in biomechanics, newly updated Widely used and referenced, David Winter's Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement is a classic examination of techniques used to measure and analyze all body movements as mechanical systems, including such everyday movements as walking. It fills the gap in human movement science area where modern science and technology are integrated with anatomy, muscle physiology, and electromyography to assess and understand human movement. In light of the explosive growth of the field, this new edition updates and enhances the text with: Expanded coverage of 3D kinematics and kinetics New materials on biomechanical movement synergies and signal processing, including auto and cross correlation, frequency analysis, analog and digital filtering, and ensemble averaging techniques Presentation of a wide spectrum of measurement and analysis techniques Updates to all existing chapters Basic physical and physiological principles in capsule form for quick reference An essential resource for researchers and student in kinesiology, bioengineering (rehabilitation engineering), physical education, ergonomics, and physical and occupational therapy, this text will also provide valuable to professionals in orthopedics, muscle physiology, and rehabilitation medicine. In response to many requests, the extensive numerical tables contained in Appendix A: "Kinematic, Kinetic, and Energy Data" can also be found at the following Web site: www.wiley.com/go/biomechanics

Download or read book Fundamentals of Tests and Measures for the Physical Therapist Assistant written by Stacie J. Fruth and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. This book was released on 2019-02-20 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fundamentals of Tests and Measures for the Physical Therapist Assistant provides students with the tools required to interpret the physical therapy evaluation and replicate the measurements and tests. This text guides students in learning how to utilize case information and documentation furnished by the PT to assist in the follow-up treatment.

Download or read book Fundamentals of Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity written by Katherine M. Jamieson and published by Human Kinetics. This book was released on 2016-08-18 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fundamentals of Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity presents information on sociology of sport to prepare readers for advanced study or practice in the field. A quick professional reference and an excellent resource for students, this text offers insights into this exciting field, explores the impact of sport in society, and examines careers in sport and physical activity that can benefit from sociological insights. Written by a team with experience in both academia and community-based sport leadership, Fundamentals of Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity introduces readers to some of the common and ongoing sociocultural questions in this field, including those of equity in gender and race, participation across areas, prominent cultural values and messages as portrayed by mass media, youth development, and sport for peace and development. The book demonstrates how those questions and ideas can be applied and used by a variety of professionals, explains some of the essential components of professional preparation, and suggests some potential paths to employment. The text includes several learning features to keep readers engaged and focused: • Success Story segments profile researchers and professionals using sociological insight in beneficial ways, showing readers content applications and career opportunities. • Using Your Sociological Imagination sidebars illuminate how a sociological lens can transform the way a reader looks at sport in society • Time Capsule sidebars present historical information and interesting facts about events and sport movements that have made lasting impacts on society. The text is divided into two parts and begins with a discussion of the origin of the social and cultural analysis of physical activity. Part I details the development of the field and its professional organizations, lists important publications, and explores opportunities for professional practice. Part II looks at common social spaces for physical activity—sport, exercise, and school—and examines them from a sociological viewpoint. By presenting an overview of the areas involved in the sociology of sport, the text allows readers to focus their efforts to prepare for further study, research, and career opportunities. Appendixes include a list of online and print resources for further study as well as tips on applying the principles of sociology to various positions in the sport industry. These features and resources will help build enthusiasm among readers and open their eyes to the opportunities in the field. Concise, informative, and practical, Fundamentals of Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity addresses the academic foundations of the field for a broad audience while providing real-world examples of sociology of sport and physical activity. From global events like the Olympic Games to community events like playground games, the text highlights the many ways in which sport affects daily life and emphasizes the importance of a loving critique of those effects. This text is part of Human Kinetics’ Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science series. The series helps students and professionals understand the basic topics, goals, and applications of the many subdisciplines in kinesiology. This and other books in the series provide a solid grounding that readers can use as a jumping-off point for further study.

Download or read book Fundamentals of the Physical Therapy Examination written by Fruth and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. This book was released on 2017-03-09 with total page 465 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fundamentals of the Physical Therapy Examination: Patient Interview and Tests & Measures, Second Edition provides physical therapy students and clinicians with the necessary tools to determine what questions to ask and what tests and measures to perform during a patient exam. This text utilizes a fundamental, step-by-step approach to the subjective and objective portions of the examination process for a broad spectrum of patients. This edition has been updated and revised to reflect the new APTA Guide 3.0, and the Second Edition also includes new and extensive coverage of goniometry and manual muscle testing techniques with more than 300 new photographs.

Download or read book Benzel s Spine Surgery E Book written by Michael P. Steinmetz and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2021-05-18 with total page 2116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written and edited by world-renowned experts in the field, Benzel's Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complication Avoidance and Management, 5th Edition, provides expert, step-by-step guidance on the evaluation and management of disorders of the spine. This definitive, two-volume work explores the full spectrum of techniques used in spine surgery, giving you the tools you need to hone your skills and increase your knowledge in this challenging area. Clearly organized and extensively revised throughout, it features contributions from both neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons to present a truly comprehensive approach to spine disease. - Offers a thorough overview of the effective management of patients with spinal disorders, including fundamental principles, biomechanics, applied anatomy, instrumentation, pathophysiology of spinal disorders, surgical techniques, motion preservation strategies, non-surgical management, and complication avoidance and management, as well as controversies. - Focuses on both pathophysiology and surgical treatment of spine disease, with an increased emphasis on minimally invasive surgery. - Contains new features such as key points boxes at the beginning of chapters and algorithms to help streamline the decision making process. - Covers today's hot topics in spine surgery, such as health economics, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, new less invasive techniques including endoscopic spine surgery, and the future of spine surgery. - Provides expert coverage of key topics including biomechanics of motion preservation techniques, spinal injuries in sports, biologics in spine fusion surgery, anterior sub-axial cervical fixation and fusion techniques, complex lumbosacropelvic fixation techniques, and many more. - Features more than 1,500 high-quality illustrations, as well as new procedural videos on en bloc spondylectomy, minimally invasive endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy, cervical total disc replacement, minimally invasive lumbar decompression of stenosis, and more. - Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

Download or read book Fundamentals of Biomechanics written by Duane Knudson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-04-17 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fundamentals of Biomechanics introduces the exciting world of how human movement is created and how it can be improved. Teachers, coaches and physical therapists all use biomechanics to help people improve movement and decrease the risk of injury. The book presents a comprehensive review of the major concepts of biomechanics and summarizes them in nine principles of biomechanics. Fundamentals of Biomechanics concludes by showing how these principles can be used by movement professionals to improve human movement. Specific case studies are presented in physical education, coaching, strength and conditioning, and sports medicine.