Overview

This unit extends students’ knowledge of human movement. Students will apply their knowledge by undertaking a project that consolidates their understanding by integrating their knowledge of functional anatomy, biomechanics, motor learning and control. Students will use appropriate scientific design to analyse exercise or sport science movements to improve performance, health or reduce injury. Students’ ability to select appropriate technology, use, analyse and report on human movement is a major focus.

Requisites

Prerequisites
SPH20010 Fundamental Principles of Biomechanics
SPH10011 Introduction to Research in Exercise Science

Rules

SPH20010 Fundamental Principles of Biomechanics

and

SPH10011 Introduction to Research in Exercise Science

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Synthesise knowledge of fundamental biomechanical principles and scientific literature to explain the role of biomechanics to enhance performance and minimise injury risk across a broad range of contexts including sport, occupational and health
  • Demonstrate a proficiency in conducting biomechanical analyses, acknowledging technical and procedural considerations associated with qualitative and quantitative methods commonly used to analyse human movement
  • Integrate knowledge and skills of anatomy and physiology, functional anatomy, motor learning and control and biomechanics within an applied context to analyse and interpret movement within the scope of practice of an exercise scientist.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
Online Lecture 24 12 weeks 2 Asynchronous lecture
On-campus Lab 24 12 weeks 2  
Specified Activities Various 60 12 weeks 5 Work on projects in groups, Reading, Instrumentation, Equipment and technology interpretations, Online learning tasks
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 42 12 weeks 3.5 Group work, Assignment preparation, Examination preparation, Laboratory preparation, Reading
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Examination Individual  30% 
Project 1 Group  50%  1,2,3 
Project 2 Individual  20%  1,2,3 

Content

  • Technology for biomechanical data capture such as 2D and 3D Motion analysis
  • Interpretation of motion analysis
  • Movement issues in people with a disability, young people, aged care and other pathologies
  • Technical equipment and instrumentation for kinetics and kinematics
  • Principles of ergonomics
  • Integration of exercise and sport science sub-disciplines to biomechanics of motion
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.