Gerrit Jan van Ingen Schenau
Encyclopedia
Gerrit Jan van Ingen Schenau (13 September 1944, Leiden - 2 April 1998, Weteringbrug
) was a Dutch
biomechanist. He made large contributions to the field of biomechanics
, particularly muscle coordination, energetics
of movement, and the functions of biarticular muscle
s. He focused on speed skating
in particular, and played a significant part in the invention of the clap skate
.
He died of cancer in 1998.
Weteringbrug
Weteringbrug is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, and lies about 9 km north of Alphen aan den Rijn....
) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
biomechanist. He made large contributions to the field of biomechanics
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
, particularly muscle coordination, energetics
Energetics
Energetics is the study of energy under transformation. Because energy flows at all scales, from the quantum level to the biosphere and cosmos, energetics is a very broad discipline, encompassing for example thermodynamics, chemistry, biological energetics, biochemistry and ecological energetics...
of movement, and the functions of biarticular muscle
Biarticular muscle
Biarticular muscles are muscles that cross two joints rather than just one, such as the hamstrings which cross both the hip and the knee. The function of these muscles is complex and often depends upon both their anatomy and the activity of other muscles at the joints in question...
s. He focused on speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
in particular, and played a significant part in the invention of the clap skate
Clap skate
The clap skate is a type of ice skate used in speed skating. Unlike in traditional skates where the blade is rigidly fixed to the boot, clap skates have the blade attached to the boot by a hinge at the front...
.
He died of cancer in 1998.