Flying and Swimming

Abstract

Locomotion is, of course, an extremely interesting subject. People are forever fascinated by sports. We cheer gold medal winners. How athletes are trained is certainly a legitimate question for biomechanics. There are people who suffer impairments in locomotion and others who try to help them recover or overcome their handicaps. These people, the sports lovers, educators, patients, orthopedic surgeons, engineers, physical therapists, nurses, prosthesis manufacturers, and hospital managers, will benefit from a good understanding of the biomechanics of locomotion. Then there is the world of animals around us. We see animals walking and crawling on land, flying in air, and swimming in fluid. From man and mice to birds, fishes, and sperms, there is a tremendous variety of questions one may wish to ask about locomotion.