Biomechanics as a scientific activity is not new. Already involved (or so it is said) in its practice were Aristotle (384-327 BC) and Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Recently, however, it has become fashionable as a separate field, as witnessed by the existence of a Journal of Biomechanics (1968), an Interna­ tional (1973), a European (1976) and an American (1977) Society of Biomechanics, and an amount of (usually recently erected) Biomechanics Laboratories at Uni­ versities or other institutions throughout the world. If one or~anises a Con­ ference on Biomechanics, a relatively large number of scientists leave their cubicles or workshops to visit the place of worship. It becomes quickly evident, however, that such a forum for scientific communication is far from being homo­ geneous. All are not of the same believe, and the variety in professional inte­ rests almost parallels the number of attendants. "Biomechanics, the science of applying methods and principles of Mechanics to biological tissues and medical problems" is a definition which, in one form or another, has found wide acceptance among biomecanicians. Nevertheless, Bio­ mechanics is interwoven and thus often confused with other scientific endeavors. It is colored differently by its many fields of application (e. g. Orthopaedic and Cardio-Vascular Surgery, Dentistry, Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine, Injury Prevention, Sports and others), and the backgrounds of its disciplina­ ries. It partly overlaps sciences as Biomaterials, Medical Physics and Biophy­ sics, Physiology, and Functional Anatomy.

I. 'Keynote' Articles.- 1. Perspectives in measurements and modeling of musculoskeletal joint dynamics.- 2. Perspectives in biomechanics applied to sport and physical education.- 3. Perspectives in human-joint kinematics.- 4. Advanced theoretical and experimental techniques in cartilage research.- 5. Bone as a mechanical structure.- 6. Bioengineering considerations in the use of major bone and joint prostheses - 32 years experience.- 7. Perspectives of soft tissue mechanics.- 8. Pressure-flow relations of arterial system and heart.- II. Muscelo-Skeletal Performance.- 9. SIMU - an interactive computer graphics simulation of human gait.- 10. Standardization of gait kinematic data using a gait symmetry index and Fourier analysis.- 11. Spinal loading during abnormal walking.- 12. Afferent contributions to postural tasks.- 13. Moment and work of the calf muscles in walking.- 14. In-vivo investigations on the mechanical function of the tractus iliotibialis.- 15. Optimal initial conditions for the eastern roll high jump.- III. Biomechanics of Joints.- 16. The application of roentgenstereophotogrammetry for evaluation of knee-joint kinematics in vitro.- 17. The displacement of the bony insertion sites of the anterior cruciate ligament during the flexion of the knee.- 18. Biomechanical Behaviour of the human tarsus related with a new radiological index.- 19. Measurements of twodimensional pressure distributions and contact areas of a joint using a pressure sensitive foil.- 20. Lumbar spine stability as determined by the axial twist.- IV. Biomechanics of Bone.- 21. A dynamic model for a healing fractured tibia.- 22. Deformational behaviour of tibio-fibular frames: the influence of anatomic variables.- 23. Influence of age on bone strength in rats.- 24. Holographic study ofthe stresses in the normal pelvis with particular reference to the movement of the sacrum.- 25. In vivo intracortical loading histories calculated from bone strain telemetry.- 26. Fracture mechanics of cortical bone.- 27. A composite model of cortical bone for the prediction of crack propagation.- 28. Structural and biomechanical analysis of osteonic compact bone: a new method.- 29. The influence of immobilization on the mechanical and morphological properties of bone.- V. Orthopaedic Implants and Fracture Fixation.- 30. The mechanical performance of solid and porous bone cement.- 31. Stress analysis in ceramic hip-joints heads of various shape and fitting.- 32. Dimensions of the femoral condyles.- 33. Micromovement of the tibial component in successful knee arthroplasty, studied by roentgen stereophotogrammetry.- 34. Stress analysis in artificial knee joints with fixed and movable axis using the finite element method.- 35. Quasi two-dimensional finite element analyses and experimental investigation of the tibial part of knee endo-prostheses with intramedullary stems.- 36. Stress distributions in fractures generated by bone plates.- 37. Biomechanical and mathematical investigations concerning stress protection of bone beneath internal fixation plates.- 38. Dynamic fracture loading during gait in a cast-brace: a clinical and biomechanical study.- VI. Cardio-Vascular Biomechanics.- 39. Wave structure in the aorta with initial axial tension.- 40. Nonlinear wave propagation in the aorta with initial loading.- 41. Transient haemorheology, application to cardiovascular diseases.- 42. Spectrum analysis of turbulence in the aorta.- 43. Cardiac wall mechanics and torsion of the left ventricle during ejection.- 44. Mechanical properties of collapsible tubes and propagation of large amplitude waves.- 45. Propagation and reflection characteristics of the human aorta.- VII. Miscellaneous Subjects.- 46. Tendon forces balancing a force on the fingertip.- 47. Roentgen stereophotogrammetry and metallic implants applied to patients with craniofacial anomalies.- 48. Biomechanical analysis of the deformation of the lower uterus during labour.- 49. The angular distribution function of the elastic fibres in the skin as estimated from in vivo measurements.- 50. Rheology of digital flexor tendons of the horse.- 51. Biomechanical and biomedical features of human sclera.- 52. Intraocular dynamics of the aphakic eye.- 53. Principle characteristics of the stress distributions in the jaw caused by dental implants.- 54. The mechanics of retraction components used in fixed appliance therapy.- 55. A mechanical investigation to the functioning of mouthguards.