Kinesiology (movement)

1. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF
KINESIOLOGY

2. What is Kinesiology?
• Definition: The study of movement as related to the
human body.
• Origins from Greek word Kinesis “to move” and ology “to
study”

3.  Structural & functional
 Exercise physiology
 Biomechanics
 Developmental
 Psychological

4.  "the science of the structures and processes
of human movement and their modification b
y inherent factors, by environmental events,
and by therapeutic intervention."

5.  Biomechanics is the study of movement involved in strength exercis
e or in the execution of a sport skill. Biomechanics focuses on the
 physical factors with movement by applying scientific laws.
 Mechanics of human movement is the study of internal and
 external forces which act on the body and the effects of these f
orces on the movement of the body

 With these applications, it looks at what takes place during an exer
cise and the role that each key joint and muscle plays.
 The scenic laws incorporate such physical factors as speed, mass, a
cceleration, levers, and force of the particular movement. Biomec
hanics explains the “why” of a movement and “how” the movemen
t can be improved through science-based modifications.

6.  Biomechanics is the execution of doing an exercise most
effectively, while
 kinesiology tells which muscles are involved in the parti
cular actions.
 help you determine what exercises are appropriate
 how to create a workout plan,
 the effectiveness of your execution of the exercise
 how safe they are for the sports that you participate in.

7. Kinematics
• The study of motion without regard to the forces or
energies that may be involved is called kinematics
• Mechanics of human movement is the study of internal
and external forces which act on the body and the effects
of these forces on the movement of the body
• Translation- when all parts of a “body” move in the same
direction
• Rectilinear motion (straight line)
• Curvilinear motion (curved line)
• Rotation (movement of body about an axis)
• Pivot-point - the axis of rotation about
which movement occurs

8. Kinematics contd.
• Active movements e.g., flexing an arm over the head
• Passive movement e.g., resistance of a stretched
ligament
• Human Movement - Center of Mass Translation/Rotation

9. Kinematics
 description of patt
ern of motion
how far
how fast
how consistent
 temporal aspects
durations
sequencing
Kinetics
 study of forces th
at cause motion
magnitude
direction
line of action
point of application

10. Kinesiology Terminology
• Anterior: toward the front of the body
• Posterior: toward the back of the body
• Midline: an imaginary line that courses vertically through
the center of the body
• Medial: toward the midline of the body
• Lateral: away from the midline of the body
• Superior: above, or toward the head

11. Kinesiology Terminology contd.
• Inferior : below, or toward the feet
• Proximal: closer to, or toward the torso/trunk
• Distal: away from the torso
• Cephalad: toward the head
• Caudal: toward the feet, or “tail”
• Superficial: toward the surface (skin) of the body

12. Kinesiology Terminology contd.
• Deep: toward the inside (core) of the body
• Origin: the proximal attachment of a muscle or ligament
• Insertion: the distal attachment of a muscle or ligament
• Prone: describes the position of an individual lying face
down
• Supine: describes the position of an individual lying face
up

13.  An axis is a line about which movement takes place.
 A plane is the surface which lies at right angle to axis
, and in which movement takes place.
Sagittal (Median plane)
 It passes vertically through the body, dividing it into e
qual right and left.
Frontal (coronal) plane
 It also passes vertically though the body, dividing it in
to front and back

14.  It divides body into cephalic and caudal.
Axes movement
 Movement in Sagittal plane is also in coronal
axis.
 Movement in coronal plane is also in sagittal
axis.
 Movement in transverse plane is also in vertic
al axis.

15. Osteokinematics
 Osteokinematics- describes the motion of bones relative t
o the three cardinal planes
 There are three imaginary planes that pass through the
human body that divide the body into segments: left/right
(sagittal), anterior/posterior (frontal), and the top/bottom
(transverse).
 Abduction: is a movement of a body segment away from
the midline of the body.
 Adduction: is the movement of a body segment toward t
he midline of the body.
 Rotation: the circular motion of a body segment about a l
ong axis.

16. Osteokinematics contd.
• Circumduction: is the movement of a body part that outli
nes the geometric shape of a cone.
• Flexion: is a decrease in the angle of two body segments.
• Extension: is an increase in the angle between two body
segments.
• Hyperextension: is the increase in the angle beyond the
anatomical point of normal joint movement.
• Eversion: turning outward as in the sole of the foot.
• Inversion: turning inward as the sole of the foot.

17. Characteristics of contractile tissues
 They respond to stimuli
 They generate an action potential following
stimulation
 They have ability to contract

18.  The force of contraction within physiological li
mit is dependent upon the initial length.
 They have the ability to maintain muscle tone
 They will atrophy from inadequate blood circul
ation and will hypertrophy in response to incre
ase work.

19.  It displays alternate dark and light bands.
 Each fibre is greatly elongated and are multi
nucleated cells
 It may be over 30cm and diameter of 0.01 –
0.1mm

20. • Each cell is separate and there is an estimate of
• 270 millions of striated muscle fibres in the body.
• Skeletal muscle has 2 components: active contra-
ctile and inner compliant tissues.
• The basic unit is the muscle fibre and each can be
regarded as a single cell with many nuclei.

21. • Each fibre is enclosed in a cell membrane- the sa
rcolemma
• The fibres are arranged in bundles (fasciculus)
• Within each fasciculus are connective tissues ca
lled Endomycium which fill the spaces between
• the muscle fibres
• Each fasciculus is bound by a strong connective
• tissue called the perimycium

22.  All the fascicule are bound together to form b
y a fibrous tissue called the epimycium
 Acronym ‘EPE’
 E – Endomycium, P – Perimycium, E - Epimycium
 The cytoplasm is called sarcoplasm
 Other structures are ribosomes, mitochondria
and glycogen required for cell metabolism

24.  Skeletal muscle appears to be striated.
 These striations are grouped into repeating reg
ions of about 2.5micrometer length in
 resting muscle and they are called sarcomeres.

26.  It is a thin myofilament and about 2 chains
of it, wound around each other to form a
Helix.
 The globular proteins (troponin and tropom
yosin) are attached to it

27.  It is comparatively thick and the molecules
are arranged in long molecular filaments
 Each of the filaments has a head and a tail.

30.  The muscle approximately account for 40 –
45% of the adult body weight
 The voluntary muscular system includes ap
proximately 434 muscles but only 75 pairs
are involved in the general posture and mo
vement of the body.

31.  Flat sheaths e.g. trapezius and transverlis
 Long and slender e.g. Sartorius and peroneus
longus
 Spindle shaped e.g. biceps and pronatus-teres

32.  Fan shaped e.g. pectoralis major
 Irregular shaped and named based on locati
on and action e.g. supinator, elevator, inter
coastal muscles
 Bone attachment e.g. brachoradialis, stern
ocleidomastoid muscles

33. • The striated muscles are innervated by the cra
nial and spinal nerve
• They are under voluntary control movements
• They have both pain nerve endings and proprio
ceptors
• The principal functions are movements and pos
ture maintenance

34. • This is the basic functional unit of the muscle
• It consists of the alpha motor neurons and all
• the muscles that it innervates.
• Muscle contraction is as a result of many motor
units firing
• The nerve cell with its axon (nerve fibres) and
all the musce fibres which it innervates is calle
d the MOTOR UNIT.

35. • The number of muscle fibres activated by the
motor unit
• The number of motor unit firing
• The frequency at which the motor unit fires
• The diameter of the axon

36.  This consists of only the nerves and the muscle it
supplies.
Innervations Ratio
It is defined as the ratio of number of muscle fibres
to the number of nerve fibres.
 IR = number of muscle fibres / the number of nerv
e fibres

37.  Concentric Contraction: In a concentric contraction the mu
scles shorten to produce movement. Motion takes place by
the muscle contracting and overcoming a resistance which
 sets the resistance in motion.
 The typical way it is measured is by the amount of weight th
at can be overcome in one repetition.
 An example of a concentric movement is doing a bicep curl
with a weight. The upward motion is the concentric muscle
action.

38.  In an eccentric contraction the muscle lengthens as it
contracts.
 The eccentric contraction plays the important role of
controlling and stopping movement and prepares the
muscle for an explosive type of contraction.
 An eccentric contraction can generate up to 50 perc
ent greater tension than the concentric contraction.
 An example of a concentric movement is doing a bice
p curl with a weight. The downward motion is the ec
centric muscle action of the triceps muscle.


39. ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION
• In an isometric contraction there is strength exhibited but
no movement of the limb.
• The muscle does develop tension and some contraction o
f the fibers and tendons, but there is no movement
• Isometric contractions play a large roll in the stabilization i
n the joints of our body

40. ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION CONTD.
• An interesting fact about isometric contractions is that ther
e is no work being done.
• Work is defined and measured by the formula W = F x D.
W = work, F = force, and D = distance. And since in an is
ometric contraction there is no movement, there is no w
ork being done.
• For work to be done there must be movement. It is not to
say that energy is not being used. Energy is more physiol
ogical, while work is more mecha-nical.

41. 
 There are five major roles that our muscles play relating to kinesiology and they are:
 1) Prime Mover or Agonist,
 2) Assistant Mover,
 3) Antagonist,
 4)Stabilization, and
 5) Synergy.






42.  1) Prime Mover or Agonist: Relates to the main muscle involved in
a concentric contraction.
 2) Assistant Mover: Usually assists the prime mover muscles. It ca
n play a main roll in certain ranges of motions or exercises.
 3) Antagonist: It has an action that is directly opposite to that of
the agonist. When an agonist muscle is undergoing a concentric c
ontraction, the antagonist is undergoing a eccentric contraction.
This eccentric contraction helps guide the movement and stabiliz
e the joint. The antagonist contraction helps slowdown moveme
nt before an injury can occur to a joint.
 During exercise, when the weight is especially heavy there is a co
-contraction that take place where both agonist and antagonist u
ndergo contraction. Again, this is needed to stabilize the joint d
uring motion.

43.  4) Stabilizer Muscles: These are the muscles that steady or
hold a body part in place.
 It anchors the bone so that the prime mover has a firm ba
se against which to contract.
 Stabilizer muscles help with all movements so that we hav
e precise movements of our limbs and body parts. As ment
ioned earlier, stabilization muscles undergo a isometric con
traction to hold the bone in place.
 5) Synergy: In kinesiology there are two types of synergy:
1) Helping synergy: is when two muscles contract simultaneou
sly to produce one movement
2) True synergy: is when a different muscle contracts to stop
the secondary action of another muscle.

44. Spurt muscles
 Have their origins at a distance from the joint on
which they act and are inserted near them.
 They direct the greater part of their force across
the bone e.g pronatus quadratus, biceps brachii
Shunt muscles
 They have their origins near the joint on which t
hey act and their insertion at a distance from th
em
 The greater part of their contractile force is dire
cted along the bone e.g brachoradialis, long hea
d of bicep for shoulder joint

45.  1) Sustained Force Movement: is a movement where there are continuous muscle
contractions to keep moving a weight. The primary muscles apply force throughout
the range of motion of the movement. A sustained force can also involve no movem
ent such as in an isometric contraction.
 2) Ballistic Movement: Movements that are performed with maximal velocity and ac
celeration.

 3) Guided Movement: in this movement both the agonist muscle and the antagonist
muscle contract to control the movement. The eccentric contraction of the antago
nist muscles do most of the guiding work, while the prime movers are responsible
for putting and keeping the limb in motion.

 4) Dynamic Balance Movements: these are movements where there are constant ag
onist and antagonist muscle contractions to maintain a certain position or posture.


46.  SF+ (Concentric contraction)
 Coasting/Inertia (The continuation of a pre-e
stablished movements)
 SF- (Eccentric)

47.  A body movement where the motion is rapidl
y reversed at the end of short excursion with
the contracting antagonistic muscles altering
in dominance.

48. The center of gravity
• The center of gravity (CoG) of the human body in the
anatomical position is around the body of the second
sacral vertebra.
• Its position may vary according to the anatomical
structure of the individual, being higher in men and
children than in the average woman
• This is due to the greater amount of weight women carry
in the upper half of the body.

51. Fundamental/Starting Positions
• Posture or position which is adopted by an individual to
perform exercise or movement or to gain relaxation and
stabilise the body is called starting position
• Derived positions are positions used by modification of
the arms, legs or trunk in each of fundamental position
• All exercises begin in one of the starting positions and
altered by moving into another position or modified
according to the need

52. • There are 5 fundamental starting positions namely:
Standing
Kneeling
Sitting
Lying
Hanging
• A balance of forces acting on the body maintain an
equilibrium and stability in these positions
• Postural reflexes control strength and distribution of
contractions

53. Standing
In standing the whole body must be balanced and stabilized in correct
alignment on feet with a small base of support by coordinated work of
many muscle groups
It is the Most difficult of positions, the position is described as below
• Heels Together, in same line, toes slightly apart
• Knees Together & straight
• Hips Extended & slightly laterally rotated
• Pelvis Balanced on femoral heads
• Spine Stretched to maximum length
• Head Thrust upwards, ears leveled & eyes look
straight forward
• Shoulders Down & back
• Arms Hang loosely to sides
• Palms Facing inwards towards body
•

54. Muscle work in Standing
• When the Body segments are in good alignment
and perfectly balanced the muscle work is
minimum.
• This increases as movement occurs or the forces
keeping the alignment disturbs.
Effects and Uses
• Due to small base of support this position is less
stable, high COG. This position is suitable to
persons who can perfectly balance and maintain
it correctly.
• This is suitable for performing many exercises, if
maintain correctly reduces muscle work and
conditions the postural reflex.

55. Muscles Work
Intrinsic muscles of feet Stabilizes feet & Prevents toe curling
Plantar flexors Balances lower leg on foot
Dorsiflexors Counterbalances plantarflexors &
support
medial longitudinal arch of the foot
Evertors Counterbalances action of invertors
Presses ball of Great toe on ground
Knee extensors works slightly
Hip extensors Maintains hip extension. Balances
pelvis on femoral heads
Hip Lateral rotators (Slight action)Bracing of legs & foot
arches
Spinal extensors Keeps trunk straight
Lumbar flexors Prevents over action of lumbar
extensors
Maintain correct angle of pelvic tilt
Supports abdominal viscera
Pre vertebral neck muscles Controls extensive neck extension
Straightens cervical spine

56. Kneeling
• In this position the body is supported on the knees which
can be together or slightly apart.
• The feet are plantar flexed if kneeling on ground or in in
mid position if on plinth, this is often used in praying
Muscle work in Kneeling
• The lower leg is relaxed and the body is supported on the
knees
Effects and uses
• This position is slightly stable than standing because of
increase in the base of support but is the most
uncomfortable of positions

57. Muscle group and their functions
• Flexors and extensors of knee: Inter play to balance
femora vertically on the knees
• Extensors of Hip and flexors of lumbar spine: Maintain
correct angle of pelvic tilt
• Remaining work of the muscles is like that in standing
position

58. Sitting
• This position is taken in chair or stool
• the hips and knees are flexed to right angle and the feet
rest on the floor
• Most used position in daily life activities
Muscle work
• This position does not need much of work to be done by
the legs to hold on to the position
• the flexors of hips work to maintain a right angle and
prevent the tendency to slump

59. Effects and Uses
• This is the most comfortable of positions and is very
stable,
• Rotation is limited to spine as the pelvis is fixed and bears
the weight of the upper body
• This position is suitable for non weight bearing exercises
of the knee and foot
• It is also suitable for training correct alignment of upper
body in habitual sitting.

60. Lying
• Lying is the easiest of the fundamental positions
• Many individuals spend few hours in sleeping or relaxing
in this position
• It is the most preferred position for rest
• It is the most stable position
Effects and Uses
• The spine is relieved of weight of the upper body suitable
for many exercises and in the treatment of spinal
deformities, unsuitable for patients with respiratory or
heart conditions due to increased pressure of abdominal
viscera and elderly due the hindrance to return of blood
from heart

61. Muscle group and their functions
Muscle work
• Muscle work in lying is minimal as little movement occurs
in this position
• The position is taken on a soft mattress as it gives way to
the contours of the body but if taken on a plinth or a hard
surface the head can roll to either sides
• Head rotators: work reciprocally to stabilize the position
• Extensors of hip & flexors of lumbar spine: work to
hollow the back
• Medial rotators of hip: keep legs in neutral position

62. Hanging
In hanging, the body is suspended by grasping onto
something with the fingers and palm
• Effects and Uses
• Hanging requires extensive work of upper back and arms
• Individuals with strong muscles to maintain the body
weight can use this position.
• Children enjoy this position in play not suitable for weak
individuals

63. Muscle Work
Flexors of fingers grasping
Wrist reduces strain on joints & synnergists
to finger flexors
Flexors of elbow reduce strain on joints
Adductors of shoulder Lift the body on arms
Shoulder depressors, retractors &
medial rotators
fix scapulae and brace upper back
Pre vertebral posterior neck muscles Maintain the position of head and neck
Flexors of lumbar spine Correct the tendency to arch the back
Adductors of hips Keep legs together
Extensors of knees Maintain full extension
Plantar flexors Work to point the toes to the floor