The Role of Biomechanics in Understanding Sports-Related Injuries: Investigating How Mechanical Forces, Joint Kinematics, and Muscle Imbalances Contribute to Common Injuries in Athletes, and How Biomechanical Analysis Can Aid in Injury Prevention
1Dr kishore kumar khatri, 2Dr Muhammad Azeem Akhund, 3Hadi Raza, 4Umar Raza, 5Mobeen ALI, 6Mohib Ali
1Assistant professor, Department of orthopaedic surgery and traumatology PUMHS nawabshah
2Associate professor department of orthopeadics surgery and traumatology PUMHS W Nawabshah
3PIMS
4PIMS
5PIMS
6PIMS
Vol: 14/04
Received: October 25, 2024 Accepted: November 02, 2024 Published: December 20, 2024
Abstract
Background: A ligament sprain, muscle pull or joint-twist in various games constitute sports-injuries that deter performance, and compromise athletes’ durability in their respective sports. From biomechanics perspective, the common mechanical forces, joint kinematics and muscular imbalance can be well explained for these injuries.
Aim: This paper discusses how biomechanics relates to sports and more so sports injuries by identifying mechanical forces, movement characteristics and muscle imbalance that will enhance the risk of an injury and how biomechanical assessment aids risk reduction.
Method: Therefore, this work adopts both observational and experimental designs to study athletes from different types of sports. The process of data collection was based on kinematics of the lower limbs joint using the motion capture system, assessment of Ground Reaction Forces using force plates, and muscle activation, and strength imbalance through EMG. Cross-sectional and longitudinal methods for statistical analysis were used to determine relationships between biomechanics parameters and the presence of injuries.
Results: Subjective analysis revealed that two high impact and torsional forces have a major influence on the injuries especially at the knee and ankle regions. Abnormalities in joint motion, including increased knee valgus and ankle inversion, were associated with higher injury incidence, and muscle imbalance relative to quadriceps-hamstrings and deltoid rotator cuff muscles also predisposed the athletes to injury possibilities. Analyses made between injured and non-injured athletes showed that anatomical anomalies increased the chance of an injury.
Conclusion: This research therefore confirms the utility of biomechanics in specifically understanding the risk factors for injury and designing measures to combat them. That is, mechanical force, joint position and muscle length-tension relationship can be trained separately to minimize injuries and maximize the durability of athletic performance.