Human body and physics: combined use of simulations and hands-on experiments to explain the quadricep muscle exercise

Abstract

Abstract We report the combined use of simulations and hands-on activities in a physics course designed to teach mechanics and the human body. Most students in the class are majoring in physical therapy or sports medicine. Although demonstrations, animations, and visual aids can tremendously help in teaching a course like this, we have access only to a few due to the novelty of the course. Therefore, to demonstrate the physics behind a physical therapy used to exercise the quadriceps muscle, we built a prototype that follows the function of a human knee. There we applied a force to the lower part of the leg (ankle area) and tracked the resultant force transferred into the quadriceps muscle. While this hands-on activity help students understand how torque balanced the system’s static equilibrium, the simulation we developed using JavaScript shows how the equilibrium is held even when the leg is moving. The simulation creates a unique, user-friendly atmosphere and invites students to try it by altering the parameters and modifying the program.