This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Biophysics and Biomechanics

Code: 103008 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500892 Physiotherapy FB 1

Contact

Name:
Alejandro Peralvarez Marin
Email:
alex.peralvarez@uab.cat

Teachers

Alejandro Peralvarez Marin
Maria Isabel Marin Garcia

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Basic knowledge is required on thermodynamics, mechanics, wave theory, electricity, electromagnetic waves, radiation as well as math and basic trigonometry.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The subject of Biophysics and Biomechanics is within the first year of the degree of Physiotherapy and is part of the basic training subjects.

The general objective is to deepen in the knowledge of various aspects of the human body function and instrumentation in the field of physiotherapy, in relation to the laws of physics.


Note: 15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the center/degree, for students to fill in the teacher performance and evaluation surveys of the subject/module.


Competences

  • Analyse and synthesise.
  • Display knowledge of the sciences, models, techniques and instruments around which physiotherapy is structured and developed.
  • Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
  • Solve problems.
  • Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  2. Analyse and synthesise.
  3. Apply the anthropometric principles.
  4. Communicate using language that is not sexist.
  5. Determine the physical bases of the different physical agents and their applications to physiotherapy.
  6. Determine the principles and applications of physiotherapy measurement procedures used in biomechanics and electrophysiology.
  7. Explain the principles and theories of physics, biomechanics and kinesiology applicable to physiotherapy.
  8. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  9. Propose new methods or well-founded alternative solutions.
  10. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing innovative proposals or ideas.
  11. Solve problems.
  12. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of suggestions for improvement: one's own and those of others.

Content

Contents

Part 1 /  Thermodynamics 

Part 2 / Mechanical waves and ultrasounds  

Part 3 /  Electromagnetic waves and radiation

Part 4 / Electricity and Electrophysiology 

Part 5 / Biomechanics I 

Part 6 / Biomechanics II

 

 

PRACTICAL SESSIONS

Practicum 1. Indirect calorimetry.

Practicum 2. Sound waves and ultrasounds.

Practicum 2. Ankle biomechanics.

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
CLASSROOM PRACTICES (PLAB) 8.5 0.34 2, 6, 11
SEMINARS (SEM) 11 0.44 2, 3, 6, 11
Theory (TE) 26 1.04 3, 6, 5, 7
Type: Supervised      
ORAL PRESENTATION/EXPOSITION OF WORKS 7 0.28
Type: Autonomous      
SELF-STUDY 89.5 3.58

- The master classes with audiovisual support will be carried out in a single group of students. The group will be divided into four for laboratory practices (PLAB) and for classroom practices (seminars, SEM).

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Evaluation of deliverables 10% 0 0 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 5, 7, 8, 12, 9, 10, 11
Evaluation of practical sessions 10% 0 0 2, 6
Two multiple-choice exams 55% 5 0.2 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 5, 7, 8, 12, 9, 10, 11
Two short-answer test 25% 3 0.12 2, 1, 7, 8, 12, 9, 10, 11

Continued avaluation
										
											
										
											The subject will be evaluated during the course in two subject eliminatory exams (80% of the final grade) and through the grades obtained in the laboratory practice sessions (10% of the final grade) and the assignments made during the development of the course (10%).
										
											
										
											To pass the subject by continuous assessment using the average of the assessment tests (the 2 elimination exams and the grades of the practice sessions), you must:
										
											
										
											a) Having obtained a minimum score of 4.5 in each of the two subject elimination exams
										
											
										
											b) Have attended at least 66% of the practice sessions and have submitted the corresponding reports.
										
											
										
											Students who have not passed the subject through continuous assessment may sit a final exam, which will consist of the parts not passed, if it is fulfilled that:
										
											
										
											c) They have appeared in the two elimination exams (which correspond to more than 66% of the final score).
										
											
										
											d) They have attended at least 66% of the laboratory practices and submitted the corresponding reports.
										
											
										
											Students who do not meet the three points above (c and d) will be classified as "Not assessable".
										
											
										
											The minimum score required to pass any exam will be 5.0.

Setting up the tests
										
											
										
											With regard to the two eliminatory subject exams (80% of the assessment activities), each of them will consist of two types of exercises:
										
											
										
											e) A test type with 40-50 theory questions and short problems to be solved without a calculator (65% of the exam grade). In this typology, revisions of the marks onthe optical recognition template will not be accepted, errors in the selection of answers or any mark, however slight, that gives a positive result in the reading will be considered as a marked answer.
										
											
										
											f) A written paper with questions related to laboratory practices and numerical problems to be solved with a calculator (35% of the exam grade).
										
											
										
											In relation to the evaluation of the laboratory practice session, it will be based on the work and the results obtained, which will be presented in a report at the end of each session (10% of the final grade).
										
											
										
											In relation to the evaluation of the students' assignments, a guideline maximum of one assignment per subject will be established, which will be given to the teaching staff during the development of the course (10% of the final grade).
										
											
										
											Final qualification
										
											
										
											Weighted sum of the assessment of theoretical and practical knowledge. To pass the subject, the grade of the weighted average must be equal to or higher than 5.0.
										
											
										
											Numerical expression: note with one decimal place, from 0.0 to 10.0.
										
											
										
											Qualitative grade: non-evaluable, failed, passed, notable, excellent, honors.
										
											
										
											In the event of not passing the subject, the practical notes will be kept, but when registering again, the student who wishes can do them and obtain a new score.

UNIQUE ASSESSMENT
										
											
										
											Students who take the single assessment must do the laboratory practices (PLAB) in face-to-face sessions and they will have a weight of 10% and it is required to present the corresponding report by the deadline indicated in the session , the evaluation and weight on the final mark of these will be the same as those of the continuous evaluation.
										
											
										
											The single assessment consists of a single summary test (with test-type questions referring to Theory and Seminars, and questions and problems to develop) on the contents of the entiretheory program (TE), of the seminars (SEM) , and laboratory practices (PLAB).
										
											
										
											The grade obtained in the synthesis test is 80% of the final grade of the subject, the grade obtained in the practicals 10%, and a work compendiumof the deliverables of each of the theory topics 10%.
										
											
										
											The single assessment test will coincide with the same date fixed in the calendar for the recovery of the continuous assessment. The date for the recovery of the single assessment will be indicated in the examination calendar published on the website of the Faculty of Medicine.
										
											
										
											To pass the subject, you must obtain a minimum final grade of 5.0 out of 10.0 in each of the parts (synthesis test, PLAB, and work compendium of deliverables).
										
											
										
											Examination review system
										
											
										
											Exams will be reviewed individually with the student.
 
 

Bibliography

BIOFÍSICA

A.S. Frumento (1995). Mosby/Doyma Libros

ELECTROTERAPIA EN FISIOTERAPIA [Recurso electrónico de las bibliotecas de la UAB]

J. M. Rodríguez Martín (2014). Ed. Médica Panamericana. FÍSICA

J. N .Kane y M. M. Sternheim (1994). Ed. Reverté. FÍSICA

P.A. Tipler. (1992). Ed. Reverté.

BIOMECÁNICA BÁSICA DEL SISTEMA MUSCULOESQUELÉTICO

M. Nordin y V. H. Frankel (2004). McGraw-Hill Interamericana.

Fundamentals of Biomechanics.

D. Knudson (2021). Springer Books.

FÍSICA PARA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA

D. Jou, J.E. Llebot, C.Perez-García. (1994) Ed. McGraw-Hill.

Recursos d’Internet

http://www.asbweb.org (web de la American Society of Biomechanics)

http://ww3.haverford.edu/physics-astro/course_materials/phys320/biophysicsCourses.html

https://ocw.mit.edu/

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/index.html


Software

No specific software is required.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 101 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 102 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 103 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 104 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 101 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 102 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 103 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 104 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 101 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed