The Society encourages international contacts amongst scientists, promotes the dissemination of knowledge, and forms liaisons with national organizations.

The decision to establish the society was made at the 3rd International Seminar on Biomechanics held in Rome in 1971.

The council also publishes a quarterly newsletter, known as ISB NOW, to inform members of Society developments and future events.

The award is named after Eadward Muybridge (1830-1904), who was one of the first to use cinematography for the study of human and animal movement.

The list of Muybridge Award winners and their lecture topics follow,[5] The ISB has a number of categories of membership including: student, charter, full, and emeritus.

The remaining category is that of honorary member, which is restricted to a few individuals whose work has made outstanding contributions to the development of Biomechanics.

Unfortunately some of these members have died (Levan Chkhaidze, James Hay, Ernst Jokl, Chauncey Morehouse, John Paul, Jacquelin Perry, David Winter).