Scope

In the context of sports, rehabilitation and physical activity promotion, enhancing performance while preventing injury, whether it is to achieve elite performance levels or to (re-)learn basic skills, is an important and often central goal. In other words, optimization of human movement is key in these contexts. Such optimization can be achieved through for example skill learning, training, and the use of assistive or protective devices, and hence primary targets are changes in either the neural control or the biomechanics of human movement. Obviously these two aspects of human movement interact: changes in neural control cause changes in the biomechanics of movement and changes in musculoskeletal biomechanics require adaptations in control. For example, gains in muscle strength may improve performance only when control is adapted to make use of the newly acquired capacities.

The section Biomechanics and Control of Human Movement aims to publish papers that provide a foundation for the optimization of human movement, by contributing to our understanding of the interaction of musculoskeletal biomechanics and neural control. The focus will be on mechanistic studies into the effects of interventions on performance and injury risk.

The section will publish original research and systematic as well as narrative reviews addressing:
·         mechanics and control of basic and complex motor skills
·         effects of ageing and disease on the mechanics and control of motor skills
·         effects of training / learning on the mechanics and control of motor skills
·         mechanical and control-related determinants of movement-related injury risk

Papers with a purely methodological focus will not be considered for publication in this section.

Submission

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