BIOMECHANICS & KINESIOLOGY OF

HUMAN MOTION AND ITS WORK

PHYSOLOGY
OUTLINE :
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMECHANICAL
ANALYSIS
APPLYING BIOMECHANICES IN WORK
PHYSIOLOGY
  BIOMECHANICS :
 Study of the mechanics as it relates to the functional and
anatomical analysis of biological systems and especially humans .
 Mechanics are two type
1- STATIC
2- DYNAMIC
 STATIC : Study of systems that are in a constant state of motion,
whether at rest with no motion or moving at a constant velocity
without acceleration
 Statics involves all forces acting on the body being in balance
resulting in the body being in equilibrium .
 DYNAMIC: Study of systems in motion with acceleration.
 A system in acceleration is unbalanced due to unequal forces
acting on the body.
 KINEMATICS : Description of motion and includes
consideration of time, displacement, velocity, acceleration, and
space factors of a system‘s motion .
 KINETICS : Study of forces associated with the motion of a
body.
 FORCE :
o is a push or a pull exerted by one object or substance on
another .
o The unit for a force in the SI system is the newton (N); the unit
in the US system is the pound (lb).
o force (mass)(acceleration) or F (m)(a) .
 MOMENT :
o In kinesiology, a moment (M) is typically caused by a force
(F)acting at a distance (r)from the centre of rotation of a
segment.
o M= r F .
o It is represented by a vector that passes through the point of
interest (e.g., the centre of rotation) and is perpendicular to
both the force and distance vectors .
 TORQUE :
o (Is moment of force) the turning effect of an eccentric force.
o Eccentric force - force applied in a direction not in line with the
center of rotation of an object with a fixed axis
o For rotation to occur an eccentric force must be applied .

• MOMENT ARM :
o The distance that is perpendicular to the force vector is referred
to as the moment arm (MA) of that force .
o The moment arm can also be calculated from any distance as
MA= r sin ().
o CONDITION :
1- As the angle of application of a force increases, the MA of the
force increases.
2-As the MA of a force increases, its potential to produce torque
increases.
3-The MA of a force is maximal when the force is applied at 90 to its
segment.
4- The MA of a force is minimal (0.0) when the action line of the
force passes through the CoR of the segment to which the force is
applied .
 FORCE COUPLE :
o The two applied forces create a moment, they have the same
magnitude and orientation but opposite directions. Therefore,
their vector sum is zero. This is an example of a force couple
 MUSCLE FORCE :
o There are three important parameters to consider with respect to
the force of a muscle: orientation, magnitude, and point of
application.
o Helpful in determining the function and efficiency of a muscle in
producing a moment.
o Clinical Relevance :
o In addition to generating moments that are responsible for
angular motion (rotation about an axis or centre of
rotation) .
o Muscles also produce forces that can cause linear motion
(translation from one position to another) .
o This force can be either a stabilizing or a destabilizing force, act
need of the muscle to make it stable .
 STATICS :
o Statics is the study of the forces acting on a body at rest or moving
with a constant velocity.
o Although the human body is almost always accelerating, Which cause
musculoskeletal problems.
o This problem may be resolved by involving dynamic analysis .
 Newton’s Laws :
o The basic physics principles developed by Sir Isaac Newton (1642-
1727) are :

1-First law: [Newton’s Law of Inertia ]

o Newton’s first law, the law of inertia, identifies the conditions under
which an object will be in equilibrium.
o Inertia is the property of an object that resists both the initiation of
motion and a change in motion and is directly proportional to its mass .
o An object remains at rest (or continues moving at a constant velocity)
unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force.
o An object that is acted upon by balanced forces and remains
motionless is in static equilibrium.
o Velocity is a vector quantity that describes both speed and direction or
orientation.
o An object in equilibrium can have a velocity of any magnitude (≥0), but that
velocity remains constant.
o When velocity of an object is greater than 0, the object is in constant motion
(dynamic equilibrium) that can be linear (as for translatory motion), angular
(as for rotatory motion), or a combination of both (as for general motion).

2- Second law : [Newton’s Law of Acceleration]

o If there is an unbalanced force acting on an object, it produces an
acceleration in the direction of the force, directly proportional to the force (f =
ma).

3- Third law: [Newton’s Law of Reaction]

o For every action (force) there is a reaction (opposing force) of equal
magnitude but in the opposite direction.

 PARALLEL FORCES :
o In this one in which all the forces have the same orientation but
not the same line of action. In other words, the force vectors all
run parallel to each other.
 LEVER : ( example of the parallel force)
o A Lever is a rigid bar which is capable of movement about a fixed
point is called Fulcrum (F).
o Levers rotate about an axis as a result of force (Effort E), being
applied to cause its movement against a resistance or weight.
 DETERMINE ,LEVER IN WHICH MOTION IS SUITED :
o Axis (A) Fulcrum ,the point of rotation.
o Point (F) of force application .
o Point (R) of resistance application.
1- A first-class lever :
is a lever system in which the axis lies between the point of
application of the effort force and the point of application of the
resistance force, without regard to the size of EA or RA.
 2- A second-class lever:
is a lever system in which the resistance force has a point of
application between the axis and the point of application of the
effort force, which always results in EA being larger than RA .
3- A third-class lever:
is a lever system in which the effort force has a point of
application between the axis and the point of application of the
resistance force, which always results in RA being larger than
EA .

 MUSCLES IN LEVER SYSTEM :

1- FIRST CLASS LEVER :
o When a lever is in rotational equilibrium, there is no net torque
(no winner); the muscle will be performing an isometric
contraction because the length is not changing if the segment is
not rotating .
o In such a case, labelling the muscle as the effort or resistance
force is random.
2- SECOND CLASS LEVER :
 Active lengthening of a muscle is referred to as an eccentric
contraction and always indicates that the muscle is serving as a
resistance force (creating torque in a direction opposite to the
observed rotation).
 It providing control (resistance) by minimizing the acceleration
produced by the EF.
3- THIRD CLASS LEVER :
 when the muscle is the effort force, EA is most likely to be smaller
than RA, with the muscle acting on a third-class lever.
 A muscle is the effort force, the muscle must be moving the
segment in its direction of pull. This means that the muscle must
be performing a shortening contraction, also known as a
concentric contraction.

 MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE :
o Mechanical advantage of a lever is the ratio of the effort arm (MA
of the effort force) to the resistance arm (MA of the resistance
force).
1-M Ad of a first-class lever :
 Can be greater than, less than, or equal to 1.
 If the MA of the muscle will be shorter than the MA of the
external force.
2- M Ad of Second-class lever :
 Will always be greater than 1.
 The magnitude of the effort force can be (but is not necessarily)
less than the magnitude of the resistance.
3- M Ad of third class lever :
 Will always be less than 1.
 The magnitude of the effort force must be greater than the
magnitude of the resistance for the effort to produce greater
torque .

 CENTER OF GRAVITY AND STABILITY :

o The centre of gravity of an object is the point at which all of the
weight of that body can be thought to be concentrated, and it
depends on a body’s shape and mass distribution.
o The COG of the human body in the anatomical position is approximately
at the level of the second sacral vertebra.
o This location changes as the shape of the body is altered. When a
person bends forward, centre of gravity shifts anteriorly and inferiorly.
o The location of the centre of gravity is also affected by body mass
distribution changes.
 FRICTION AND SHEAR FORCE :
o Shear and friction forces potentially exist whenever two objects touch.
o A Shear force is any force that lies parallel to the contacting surfaces
(or curved surfaces) of an object and causes or attempts to cause
movement between the surfaces.
o Friction is a special case of a shear force in which the direction is
always opposite to the direction of potential or relative movement of the
objects (opposite in direction to the shear force on that object).
o The magnitude of static friction can change with a change in the net
shear force that friction opposes.
o The magnitude of kinetic friction remains the same regardless of the
shear force or forces it opposes or the speed of the moving object.
o The magnitude of friction can never exceed the magnitude of the shear
force or forces it opposes .
APPLYING BIOMECHANICS IN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING :
o According to NSCA Journal —many research have been receptive
to articles on the biomechanics of exercise.
o Biomechanics helps strength and conditioning to assess these
risk benefit ratios, determine the most appropriate exercises, and
evaluate technique during training.
 QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SQUAT TECHNIQUE :
o The squat is a functional exercise used for a wide variety of sports
and other fitness objectives.
o The squat is usually performed as a free-weight exercise, making
movement technique critical to overloading the target muscle
groups and minimizing the risk of injury.
o Free-weight exercises is necessary because small variations allow
other muscles to contribute to the lift, diminishing overload of the
muscles or movements of interest.
o TECHNIQUE POINTS AND CUES FOR THE PARALLEL OR
FRONT SQUAT
TECHNIQUE POSSIBLE
POINTS INTERVENTION CUES
STANCE ATHLETIC POSITION

EXTENDED /NEURAL SLIGHT ARCH

SPINE
SLOW ,SMOOTH SLOW AND SMOOTH
MOVEMENT
KEEP THIGHS ABOVE THIGH PRALLEL TO
HORIZONTAL THE GROUND

o Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in the biomechanical

principles related to the eccentric phase of the squat.
o The timing information in the caption indicates the squat was
slow, maximizing the time the muscles were stressed (Force–Time
Principle ).
o Also keeps spine straight with normal lordosis , so the spinal
loads are primarily compression and are evenly applied across the
disks.
o This more axial loading between the spinal segments is safest for
the spine.
o Completed this exercise with the appropriate full Range of
Motion, while not hyperflexing the knee.
o The amount of trunk lean (hip flexion) in a squat is the primary
factor in determining the distribution of joint moments that
contribute to the exercise (Escamilla, 2001; Hay, Andrews,
Vaughan 1983).
o The more upright posture in the front squat decreases the hip
and lumbar extensor torques, while increasing the knee extensor
torques required in the exercise.
o Performing this person gain balance changes over a practice or
several sets of an exercise or could give a strength and clues
about fatigue to the trainer.
o It will help to improve the squat training and help to gain the
strength and conditioning.
 QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF DROP JUMPS :
o Plyometrics are common exercises for improving speed and
muscular power movements in athletes.
o Use weights, medicine balls, and falls to exaggerate stretch-
shortening-cycle muscle actions.
o Research has focused on drop jumps as a lower-body polymeric
exercise for improving jumping ability (Bobbert, 1990).
o TECHNIQUE POINTS AND CUES FOR DROP JUMPS :

TECHNIQUE POINTS POSSIBLE

INTERVENTION
CUES
LANDING POSITION TOE –HEEL LANDING
RAPID REBOUND QUICK BOUNCE
MINIMIZE COUNTER RANGE OF MOTION
MOVEMENT
ARM INTEGRATION ARMS DOWN AND UP
o The strong points of her technique are good lower-extremity
positioning before touchdown, moderate countermovement, and a
nearly vertical takeoff .
o Occasionally subjects will have a longer eccentric phase that
minimizes the stretch shortening-cycle effect of drop jumps
(Bobbert et al., 1986).
o The Force–Time Principle applied to polymeric exercises ,explains
why large forces and high rates of force development are created
over the short time of force application in plyometrics .
o In this researcher , utilize an arm swing with coordination similar to
jumping . If the arms are accelerated downward as the person
lands, this will decrease eccentric loading of the lower extremities .
o For jump-specific training, cue the person to swing their arms
downward in the drop so the arms are swinging behind them during
the loading phase, increasing the intensity of eccentric loading of
the lower extremities.
o The vigorous forward and upward swing of the arms from this
position increases the vertical ground-reaction force through
segmental interaction (Feltner et al., 1999).
o The cue “arms down and up” could be used to remind the person of
the technique points she should be focusing on in the following
repetition.
o This matching of the exercise conditions to perform specificity , to
improve joint ability .

 QUALITATIVELY ANALYZE THE JAVELIN THROW :

o The principles most relevant to the javelin throw are Optimal
Projection, Inertia, Range of Motion, Force–Motion, Force–
Time, Segmental Interaction, and Coordination Continuum .
o Athletes throw the javelin by generating linear momentum
(using Inertia) with an approach that is transferred up the body
in a sequential over arm throwing pattern .
o while the strength and conditioning is training to improve
performance and prevent injury.
o This Segmental Interaction using energy from the whole body
focuses large forces (Force–Motion) in the upper extremity.
o The size and weight of the javelin also contribute to the high
stresses on the shoulder and elbow joints.
o Elastic cord exercises could be designed to train the athlete to
push in the direction of the throw (Optimal Projection), this
section will focus on the specificity of two exercises: the bench
press and pullovers.
o For specificity of training, the exercises prescribed should match
these principles and focus on muscles that contribute (Force–
Motion) to the joint motions (Range of Motion), and those which
might help stabilize the body to prevent injury.
o While the energy to throw a javelin is transferred up the trunk
and upper arm, a major contributor to shoulder horizontal
adduction in over arm patterns is likely to be the pectoralis major
of the throwing arm .
o Matching the speed of movement and determining appropriate
resistances are also specificity issues that biomechanics would
help inform .
o Biomechanical research on the javelin can then help select the
exercise and customize it to match pectoralis major function
during the event.
o Kinematic research help identify the shoulder range and speed of
shoulder motion in the javelin throw.
 QUALITATIVELY ANALYZE PERFORMING THE BENCH
PRESS :
o The biomechanical principles relevant to the bench press are Balance,
Coordination Continuum, Force–Time, and Range of Motion.
o When training for strength, resistance is high, the athlete must have
good control of the weight (Balance), and coordination during the lift will
be simultaneous.
o When training for strength, resistance is high, the athlete must have
good control of the weight (Balance), and coordination during the lift will
be simultaneous .
o The force–time profile of strength training attempts to maintain large
forces applied to the bar through as much of the range of motion .
o This keeps the movement slow and force output near the weight of the
bar .
o The principle of Range of Motion in strength training tends toward one
of two extremes.
o First, minimize the ROM of joints that do not contribute to the
movement and of those that allow other muscles to contribute to the
movement.
o Second, the ROM for joint movements or muscles that are targeted by
the exercise should be maximized.
o The athlete also hyper extended his lumbar spine in straining
to lift the weight.
o Risk of immediate injury: lateral strength imbalance, poor
control of bar motion, and hyperextension of the lumbar spine.
o Hyperextension of the lumbar spine under loading is
dangerous because of uneven pressures on the intervertebral
disks and greater load bearing on the facet joints.
o The intervention here is to terminate the lift with assistance
from a spotter and return to lifting only when the athlete
maintains a neutral and supported spinal posture on the
bench.
o The two principles most strongly related to exercise safety in
the bench press are Balance and Range of Motion, Here
immediate risk of injury is more important than balance, skill
in the exercise.
 APPLYING BIOMECHANICS IN SPORTS AND
REHABILITATION :
 INJURY MECHANISMS :
o Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is inflammation of the patellar
cartilage Knee.
o It is believed that PFPS may result from misalignment of the knee,
weakness in the medial components of the quadriceps, and overuse.
o If the vastus medialis and vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) fibers are
weak, patella may track more laterally on the femur and irritate
either the patellar or femoral cartilage.
 PROBLEM :
o The principle that is the weakest for this subject is the large knee
flexion ROM.
 EXERCISE :
o Focus on VMO are knee extensions within 30º of extension , short-arc
leg presses/squats, and isometric quadriceps setting at complete
extension, and these exercises with combined hip adduction.
o In PFPS we set leg press with slightly lower the weight or keeping
the knees extended to at least 120º would be appropriate.
o A leg press machine requires less motor control to balance the
resistance than a free-weight squat exercise, so a leg press may
be more appropriate than a squat.
o Exercise with leg press machine or a cycle that allows the subject
to keep the hip extended (reducing hip extensor contributions and
increasing quadriceps demand ) and limit the amount of knee
flexion allowed.
 EQUIPMENT :
o Prosthetics are artificial limbs or body parts.
o Orthotics are devices or braces that support, cushion, or guide
the motion of a body .
o Used as often as need to treat a variety of musculoskeletal
problems.
 INJURY PREVENTION :
o Use biomechanical principles to understand injury mechanisms,
select appropriate injury prevention and rehabilitation protocols,
and monitor recovery.
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