Mechanics directly relates maths to physics and the physical world; it is the clearest example of ‘real-world’ implications of mathematical theories, and as such is sometimes called applied mathematics. It deals explicitly with movement of objects and forces that act upon them. From this humble starting point we can go on to learn about Newton's laws, important fundamental principles of the world, and understand clinically important concepts such as linking likely injury severity to mechanism of trauma, and why some pathologies cause patients to tire so quickly. By understanding these concepts we can improve our decision-making and clinical acumen.