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The 6 Best Online Biomechanics Courses in (2024)

Picture this: you’re at a basketball match, but you aren’t focusing on the score. Instead, you’re paying close attention to the way the players are moving – how high they’re jumping to shoot baskets and how gracefully they land back on their feet.

Their movements fascinate you, and you start to wonder about how the physics of the body intersect with its internal biological structures.

This is where biomechanics comes in.

Biomechanics adds biological structures and the physics of movements together, making a scientific baby that combines the best parts of physics and biology. It can be used in the fields of sports medicine, athletic training, coaching, and even product design.

If you’ve been scouring the internet for the best biomechanics courses online, look no further. We’ve curated a list of the top biomechanics courses available online.

The list below includes courses for beginners in search of an introductory course, along with courses for more advanced learners, such as medical students. We have included a few courses for those of you who want to improve your own or another’s sports performance as well.

We have ranked the following courses based on the highest number of 5-star ratings, student reviews, and instructor quality.

The Best Biomechanics Course Online

1. Physics of Life 2: Biomechanics

We’ve ranked this course at #1 because of the concise content and the instructor Scott Turner’s simple and clear style of teaching.

It is perfect for college-level biology students who want to gain a better understanding of how life works in the physical world. The course is also ideal for medical students interested in delving into sport medicine. Though the course does cover only the basics of biomechanics, it will provide you with a solid foundation to the subject

Scott Turner, the creator of this course is a Professor of Biology, a trained physiologist, and a published author. His course “deals with the mechanics of life”, covering topics such as the basic principles of mechanics and the material properties enabling living things to move and support themselves.

Former students who have taken this course appreciated the simplicity of Turner’s delivery, the interesting and easily understandable content, and the practical application of the examples provided in each lecture.

The course requires a high school level knowledge of physics and introductory college-level biology.

Features of the course:

  • Six hours of video footage divided into eight sections, with 39 lectures
  • 17 downloadable resources
  • Certificate of completion
  • Access on mobile devices and television

What You’ll Learn:

  • The basic concepts of strain and stress and how these concepts can be applied to living structures
  • The importance of elastic energy storage in skeletal systems
  • How biological materials are built to resist failure
  • What skeletal systems are
  • Skeletons as machines
  • The physics of walking, running, and jumping

With over 260 students and a rating of 4.5 stars on Udemy, this course is the best option for biology and podiatry students.

Review by: Daniel Kraft

“Everything I could have asked for and more. I didn’t understand all concepts, but the professor always circled back in such a helpful way. Many of the examples he used related to things I find interesting. All in all, to keep it short and sweet, what a great course.”

Check Course Details

2. Introduction to Human Biomechanics – External Forces (Physioplus)

There are two types of biomechanics: internal and external. This course by Physioplus deals with the latter. We would recommend the course for biology and medical students interested in physiotherapy, along with nurses, athletic trainers, and occupational therapists.

The course is presented by Tolulope Adeniji, a physiotherapist and CEO of Ganador Healthcare Services in Nigeria. His specialty lies in geriatric physiotherapy. Adeniji has a geriatrics practice specializing in aging science, including motor and cognitive recovery, brain modulation for pain, and biomechanics related to aging.

Adeniji discusses the basics of human biomechanics that physiotherapists must understand to treat patients effectively.

Features of the course

  • 5 hour of video footage
  • Reading activity
  • A quiz
  • Course certificate

To obtain the completion certificate, you:

  1. Must watch the video provided at your convenience.
  2. Need to do some additional reading, including but not limited to Physiopedia pages and journal articles.
  3. Have to attempt quizzes.
  4. Participate in a discussion forum.
  5. Must pass a final quiz with a score of at least 80% or more.

What You’ll Learn:

  • The basics of human external biomechanics
  • How these biomechanics are applied to clinical physiotherapy practice

This introductory course is one of the best biomechanics courses available online. It has a 4.0-star rating on the Physioplus website and allows you to take your time when completing it.

Review by: Timothy Ayogu

“Really a great course. I would recommend this course and all of the courses of Physiopedia to anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge of managing pain and dysfunction.”

Click here to sign up.

3. Biomechanics: Introductory Course for Beginners (Udemy)

This introductory course is perfect for high school seniors or biomedical engineering students.

Sara Anis ElDarwich and her husband Hamid ElDarwich teach this course. Sara has a Master’s degree in Biomedical engineering. She is also a researcher in the field of regenerative medicine and engineering. Hamid is a Ph.D. candidate in engineering at Princeton with a passion for mechanics and teaching theory.

While this course is relatively short, we’ve chosen to include it on this list because it provides students and other learners with the opportunity to learn the very basics of biomechanics and biomedical engineering quickly.

Features of the Course:

  • 36 minutes of video footage divided into 14 lectures
  • Full lifetime access
  • Certificate of completion
  • Access on mobile devices and television

What You’ll Learn:

  • Introduction to Biomechanics
  • Physics of the skeleton
  • What biomedical engineering is
  • How engineering concepts can be used in medicine

The course has a 4.3-star rating on Udemy. It has seen 179 students and does not require any prior knowledge about the subject at hand.

Review by Sneha Kuhikar:

“For the very first I have come across this course online provided on a MOOC platform. Well explained by the teachers, short yet informative with applications. There could have been some more minutes/hours to get an in-depth explanation of Biomedical. But as the course name suggests, this is an “Introduction,” so this course is perfect for Introduction of Biomedical Engineering!”

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4. Rehabilitation of Running Biomechanics (Physioplus)

This course is perfect for anyone working in the physical health industry, from physiotherapists to athletic trainers and even injured athletes looking for ways to understand their bodies better. It is also an excellent option for medical students interested in sports medicine and biology students interested in the human body’s mechanics.

Ari Kaplan and Douglas Adams teach it. Kaplan has a doctorate in physical therapy from Delaware University, with specialties in biomechanics and running. Adams, too has a doctorate in physical therapy. He has a passion for sports medicine and running gait analysis.

Features of the Course:

  • 5 hour of video footage
  • Reading activity
  • A quiz
  • Course certificate

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to develop a plan of care for runners with injuries
  • How to understand training and injury history
  • How to identify mobility and motor control deficits concerning running

To obtain the completion certificate, you:

  1. Must watch the video provided at your convenience.
  2. Need to do some additional reading, including but not limited to Physiopedia pages and journal articles.
  3. Have to attempt quizzes.
  4. Participate in a discussion forum.
  5. Must pass a final quiz with a score of at least 80% or more.

This course on the rehabilitation of running biomechanics will provide you with a better understanding of how to develop a plan of care for runners to rehabilitate a running injury.

Review by James Mcassey:

“Really comprehensive course and very structured and detailed without being overwhelming.”

Click here to sign up.

5.  Introduction to Orthodontic Biomechanics

We’ve included this course for more advanced learners, such as orthodontic specialists, dentistry, engineering, and biology students.

This introductory course is taught by Dr. Gustavo Gameiro, a professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He is the creator of the blog Essential Biomechanics, and holds two Ph.D. degrees in Physiology and Orthodontics.

Features of the Course:

  • 5 hours of video footage divided into 30 lectures
  • Certificate of completion
  • Four downloadable resources
  • Access on mobile devices and television

There are no prior requirements for this course, aside from an interest in orthodontic biomechanics.

What You’ll Learn:

  • The biological basis of tooth movement, its pharmacological and physiological modulations.
  • Elementary concepts of mechanics applied to orthodontics
  • Equilibrium and appliance systems
  • Biomechanical planning
  • Practical applications of orthodontic biomechanics

Gameiro’s course is one of the bestselling courses on the Udemy platform. It has a 4.7-star rating and over 400 students.

Review by Paramat Sooraksa:

“This course really exceeded my expectations. This course is perfect for dental students who want to emphasize the general and basic concepts of force equilibrium and real orthodontic applications.”

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6. Workout Game Changer- Learn the Most Effective Way to Workout (Udemy)

Created by Kasper Allison, a Kinesiology major and human movement specialist, this course is less about biomechanics’ science and how biomechanics relates to exercise. It is perfect for biology students, fitness enthusiasts, and trainers.

Features of the Course:

  • 45 lectures divided into nine sections
  • Seven articles
  • Certificate of completion
  • Access on mobile devices and television

Aside from an open mind and a willingness to learn, this course does not require any prior knowledge of biomechanics.

What You’ll Learn:

  • The fundamentals of proper human biomechanics focused on teaching you how to get the most out of your workouts.
  • How to move your body correctly before starting any workout
  • How to increase your strength, power, and mobility
  • How to decrease the risk of injury
  • How to connect with your body and know what feels right when you move it to exercise

While this course is hugely beneficial for your physical fitness and health, it can also help you fight old, throbbing injuries.

Kasper Allison’s course has a 4.8-star rating, and it is one of the main featured courses on the Udemy website.

Check Course Details

The courses mentioned in our carefully curated list were chosen based on the content included in each course, the amount of material available, and the instructor’s quality. We also made sure to look into the student reviews and feedback for each course. Both of the platforms we chose also have mobile apps, allowing you to access the classes even when you’re on the go.

Here is some additional information about Biomechanics.

What is Biomechanics?

Biomechanics is, in short, the study of biological systems, specifically their structure and function. It is concerned with how biological organisms react to external forces and stimuli. Biomechanics uses methods derived from mechanics involved with the effects of pressure on bodies’ motion.

It is a multidisciplinary field, combining physical and engineering expertise with information from the medical and biological sciences. Some of the many areas associated with biomechanics include kinesiology, musculoskeletal biomechanics,  and sports biomechanics, to name a few.

Who Uses Biomechanics?

Biomechanics is a part of the larger field of kinesiology, focusing on the mechanics of movement. It is used for research in biology, engineering, ergonomics, and health sciences.

A doctorate in kinesiology or a Master’s of Science can lead you to a career in the biomechanics field. For example, you could work in research and testing in athletics and study and designing equipment for a sports company.

As a student of biomechanics, your coursework will include physics, mathematics, biology, anatomy, and physiology. You will learn to work with laboratory equipment such as force plates, high-speed video motion analysis systems, pressure sensors, modeling, and computer analysis programs.

What is Biomechanics Used For?

Biomechanics can be used for various purposes. In the field of sports medicine, it can be used for the following:

  • Studying injuries
    Biomechanics can be applied to studying what causes injuries to occur, how to treat them and prevent them from happening again. For example, the research can analyze what causes an ankle sprain and how shoe design can avoid the risk of injury.
  • Equipment
    Biomechanics is often used when designing sports equipment, shoes, and clothing, as well as the facilities and fields where sports are played. For example, badminton rackets are designed with the best grip for a player.
  • Athletes and individuals
    Lifting weights incorrectly could lead to a sore back, or throwing a ball with incorrect form could lead to a damaged shoulder. The data from biomechanics studies can help athletes with their training. For example, taking a video of a training session allows the athlete to analyze their movement and make changes to their form or gait when performing.

How much do Biomechanists make?

The average salary for a biomechanist is between $51,000 and $68,000.

Expand your knowledge on Biomechanics by clicking on the links above!

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