CH1S21 - Biomechanics 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CH1S21
Module Title: Biomechanics
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Allied Health and Chiropractic
Faculty Sub Group: Chiropractic
Module Leader: Benjamin Stacey
Module Team: Hayley Davies, Jayne Ludlow, Paul McCambridge
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100241 - chiropractic
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

The aims of this module are to: 

Develop an appreciation of fundamental mechanical principles that are relevant to chiropractic 

Enable students to understand and resolve considered biomechanical problems relevant to chiropractic. 

Content Summary

Numbers, measurement, solving equations (e.g. scientific notation, rounding-off numbers, solving for one unknown) 

Introduction to statistics (descriptive statistics; probability (standard, binomial, Poisson’s); normal probability and inference; hypothesis testing; large-sample comparisons; small-sample comparisons samples) 

Linear kinematics (e.g. vectors (resultants and components), displacement, velocity, acceleration; with applications) 

Angular kinematics (e.g. angular displacement, angular velocity, angular acceleration, tangential velocity, tangential acceleration, centripetal acceleration; with applications) 

Linear kinetics (e.g. mass, weight, reaction force, friction, collision, linear momentum, impulse; with applications) 

Angular kinetics (e.g. moment, moment of inertia, conservation of angular momentum, torque; with applications) 

Energy, work and power 

Materials science theory (e.g. stress, strain, strength, extensibility, stiffness, toughness, perfectly linear elastic solids, viscoelastic solids, hysteresis, resilience, creep, stress relaxation) 

Structure and mechanical properties and behaviours of collagen, elastin, articular cartilage, fibrocartilage (intervertebral disc), bone and muscle 

Introduction to human locomotion (e.g. characteristics of walking; mechanics of gait change) 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Independent Study 90
Directed Study 86
Formative assessment - scheduled 4
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To demonstrate the ability to solve selected statistical and biomechanical problems that are relevant to chiropractic
LO2 To demonstrate an understanding of selected statistical and mechanical principles and properties that are relevant to chiropractic.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Assessment (Exam) Online Closed Book Examination 1 Written test; factual recall AND solving biophysical problems; multiple-choice questions, short and medium-length answers 120 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Online Closed Book Examination 1

Reading List

1 Bartlett, R. (2014). Introduction to sports biomechanics: analysing human movement patterns. 3rd ed.  Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge 

2 McGinnis, P.M., (2020). Biomechanics of Sport & Exercise 4th ed. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics. 

3 Nigg, B. and Herzog, W., (2006). Biomechanics of the musculo-skeletal system 3rd ed. Chichester, UK, John Wiley & Sons. 

4  Nordin, M.  (2023). Basic Biomechanics of the Muscloskeletal System. 5th ed. WOLTERS KLUWER MEDICAL