Studying and learning Biomechanics

Courses in biomechanics

Students wishing to specialize in the field of biomechanics should be enrolled in the Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering degrees, which offer a portfolio of courses designed to provide a broad training in biomechanics. The Biomechanics Research Group at IDMEC is a key part of the following courses:

1st cycle

  • Computational Modelling in Mechanics
  • Introduction to Computational Methods in Biomedicine

2nd cycle

  • Biomechanics of Motion
  • Tissue Biomechanics
  • Computational Graphics and Geometric Modeling
  • Development of Medical Devices
  • Mechanobiology

3rd cycle

  • Modelling and Design in Biomechanics and Biomaterials
  • Computational Dynamics

Laboratories of biomechanics

The faculty of the Biomechanics Research Group is responsible for the following research and teaching laboratories:

Lisbon Biomechanics Laboratory

The Lisbon Biomechanics Laboratory (LBL) has the mission to support research, teaching and clinical activities in the area of Biomechanics of Movement and to promote university extension actions for advanced training of professionals, consultancy services and development of prototypes to support health, sports and leisure equipment design.
The LBL is equipped with kinematic data acquisition systems (IMU System, 14 infrared cameras, 4 optical cameras), kinetic acquisition (3 force platforms, a pressure plate and a pressure carpet), EMG (32 channels), and gas measuring.
The main lines of action of LBL are the support to the work programs of research activities in the framework of thesis and research projects, lecture and teaching activities in courses taught at IST and consultancy services in experimental human movement.

Lab coordinators: Jorge Ambrósio and Miguel Tavares da Silva

Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory

The main objective of the Tissue Biomechanics Lab is to support the research on tissue biomechanics, biomaterials and orthopaedic devices carried out by the Biomechanics Research Group. Facilities include 3D printers that allow the development of structures to be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering and mechanical test machines with capacity to test biological materials.

Its main lines of action are to:

  • Support teaching, especially MSc and PhD thesis projects.
  • Support the scientific work developed in the framework of research projects on Tissue Biomechanics.
Lab Coordinator: Paulo Fernandes

Theses in biomechanics

Ongoing

PhD
Master's
  • Inverse dynamic analysis of the musculoskeletal system of the upper limb during swimming
    Inverse dynamic analysis of the musculoskeletal system of the upper limb during swimming

    MSc in Biomedical Engineering
    Author: Manuel Duarte
    Supervisors: Carlos Quental and João Paulo Vilas-Boas

  • Modelos estatísticos de forma do ombro para reconstrução de modelos biomecânicos a partir de dados de movimento
    Modelos estatísticos de forma do ombro para reconstrução de modelos biomecânicos a partir de dados de movimento

    MSc in Biomedical Engineering
    Author: Augusto Marques
    Supervisors: João Folgado and Carlos Quental

  • Analise Biomecânica de um novo design de fixador posterior interespinhoso
    Analise Biomecânica de um novo design de fixador posterior interespinhoso

    MSc in Biomedical Engineering
    Author: Aline Gouveia
    Supervisors: Paulo Fernandes and Miguel Seabra

  • Análise Biomecânica do complexo saco capsular/lente intra-ocular
    Análise Biomecânica do complexo saco capsular/lente intra-ocular

    MEng in Biomedical Engineering
    Author: Ana Bárbara Raposo
    Supervisors: André Castro and Paulo Fernandes

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Students' testimonials

“I enjoyed very much to work with very skilled, hard worker and passionate people and how their enthusiasm improves people's quality of life.”
Ivo Roupa
Ivo RoupaPhD student
"I loved the dynamics in the lab, the collaboration among colleagues, and the knowledge shared in numerous biomechanical areas."
Madalena Antunes
Madalena AntunesPhD student

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