Biomechanics Basics Every Athlete Should Know

When you play a sport, you tend to pay a lot of attention to your overall performance and the general activities that can help you improve your performance. But you likely don’t give a lot of thought to biomechanics — the way your body moves and responds to the individual demands placed on it.

Podiatrists have a deep understanding of biomechanics, because so many movements — in sports and in your daily life — depend on your feet. Every time you take a step, pivot, or jump, your outcome depends on your feet and how they respond throughout every phase of movement. 

At PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic in Spring, Texas, Eric Blanson, DPM, and his team use biomechanics to help athletes improve their performance and avoid injury, so they can get the most out of the sports they love. If you’re an athlete — pro, amateur, school, or weekend warrior — here’s what you should know about biomechanics.

Biomechanics 101

Biomechanics is literally the application of mechanical principles to living creatures — specifically people. By looking at our bodies as biological machines, we can apply established principles of movement and force that can help us identify ways to improve those movements.

Although its use in sports medicine has only recently gained popularity, the concept of biomechanics is well established, going all the way back to the Greek philosopher Aristotle who wrote a book on the subject about 2300 years ago.

A biomechanical analysis allows Dr. Blanson to make suggestions about the way you play your sport, so you can optimize individual movements involved in running, jumping, throwing, landing, and other actions.

Biomechanics and injury prevention

Your biomechanics — the way your body responds to movement and forces — play a big role in your potential for injury. For instance, it’s pretty obvious that if you jump and land “wrong,” you’re more likely to suffer an injury like an ACL tear or an ankle sprain compared to landing using the right technique.

No matter how much you train, if your biomechanics aren’t optimized, you can still wind up with injuries. By analyzing your biomechanics, Dr. Blanson can spot potential problems and identify ways to improve the way you move, so you can reduce your risks of both minor and serious injuries. By incorporating even subtle movement changes into your training on a consistent basis, those improvements become automatic, and a natural part of how you play.

Biomechanics and sports performance

Avoiding injuries is one way biomechanics helps improve sports performance. But understanding and improving your biomechanics helps your sports performance in other ways, as well.

Athletes who focus on improving their individual movements through biomechanics have a deeper understanding of how their bodies will respond in specific situations. This allows athletes to make smarter split-second decisions demanded by most sports, so they can enjoy better performance and better outcomes.

Plus, understanding your biomechanics helps you train better, so you’re better prepared on the field. With Dr. Blanson’s feedback, combined with optimized training, you can take your game — and your enjoyment — to the next level.

Get the most from your sport

Athletes of all levels can benefit from a professional analysis of their unique biomechanics. As a top sports medicine and foot and ankle physician, Dr. Blanson is ready to help you optimize your biomechanics to improve your performance and prevent sidelining injuries. To learn how, book an appointment online or over the phone today.