This document outlines the key topics and concepts covered in a basic kinematics course, including: I) an introduction to the course, II) biomechanical concepts related to human movement, III) anatomical concepts, and IV) applications. The biomechanical concepts section focuses on basic kinematic concepts such as describing motion using variables like time, position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration. It also discusses reference systems for describing the motion of body segments and guidelines for precisely documenting human and joint motion. The overall summary is that the course introduces students to the terminology, variables, and methods used to quantitatively describe and analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of human and body segment motion.

1. Basic Kinematics

2. Course Content
I. Introduction to the Course
II. Biomechanical Concepts Related to
Human Movement
III. Anatomical Concepts Related to Human
Movement
IV. Applications in Human Movement

3. Course Content
I. Introduction to the Course
II. Biomechanical Concepts Related to
Human Movement
III. Anatomical Concepts Related to Human
Movement
IV. Applications in Human Movement

4. Biomechanical Concepts
A. Basic Kinematic Concepts
B. Vector Algebra
C. Basic Kinetic Concepts

5. Biomechanical Concepts
A. Basic Kinematic Concepts
B. Vector Algebra
C. Basic Kinetic Concepts

6. Basic Kinematic Concepts
1. Variables for Describing Motion
2. Reference Systems for Describing Motion
of the Human Body and Its Segments
3. Guidelines for Describing Motion of the
Human Body and Its Segments

7. Rigid Body Mechanics
Rigid Body
Mechanics
Statics Dynamics
Constant Velocity Motionless
Kinematics Kinetics
Kinematics Kinetics

8. What is kinematics?
 Spatial and temporal characteristics
 Qualitative or quantitative
 Linear & angular motion

9. Why use kinematics?
 Practical: Provides a standard for us in performing,
teaching, or evaluating a skill
 Research: Once we describe, we can ask why?
Problem with kinematics?
 Practical: Proper kinematics does not always mean
proper force application

10. Basic Kinematic Concepts
1. Variables for Describing Motion
2. Reference Systems for Describing Motion
of the Human Body & Its Segments
3. Guidelines for Describing Motion of the
Human Body & Its Segments

11. Kinematic Variables
 Time
 Position
 Displacement & distance
 Velocity & speed
 Acceleration

12. Time – Temporal Analysis
WHEN?
HOW OFTEN?
IN WHAT ORDER?
HOW LONG?
 Most basic analysis
 Examples:
 Cadence
 Stride time
 Temporal patterning

13. Temporal Patterning

14. Temporal Patterning
Stance Swing

15. Absolute vs. Relative Timing

16. Position
 position - location in space relative to some
reference point
 Linear position (s)
 x,y,z coordinates
 Angular position ()
 Units
WHERE?

17. Displacement & Distance
 Displacement (s, )
 Final change in position
 Vector quantity
 Distance (p, )
 Sum of all changes in
position
 Scalar quantity
HOW FAR?
Units (m, °)

18. Velocity & Acceleration
 Velocity (v, )
 Vector quantity
 position  time
 Units (m.s-1, °.s-1)
 Acceleration (a, )
 Vector quantity
 velocity  time
 Units (m.s-2, °.s-2)
 Insight into
forces/torques
HOW FAST?
HOW QUICKLY IS
VELOCITY
CHANGING?

19. Basic Kinematic Concepts
1. Types of Motion
2. Variables for Describing Motion
3. Reference Systems for Describing Motion
of the Human Body & Its Segments
4. Guidelines for Describing Motion of the
Human Body & Its Segments

20. Reference Systems: Linear
+x
-x
-y
+y
+z
horizontal
vertical
horizontal
Must define origin of
reference system to
quantify kinematics.

21. 0°
90°
180°
270°
 rad
½ rev
3/2 rad
¾ rev
/2 rad
¼ rev
2 rad
1 rev
Absolute Reference Systems:
Angular
CCW +

22. Relative Reference Systems:
Angular

23. Relative Reference Systems
Fundamental
Standing
Position
Anatomical
Standing
Position
All Joints @ 0except
•Ankle @ 90
•Forearm varies

24. Reference Systems for Measuring
Joint Position & Displacement
0
90
140
140

25. 0
0 40 90
90

26. Basic Kinematic Concepts
1. Types of Motion
2. Variables for Describing Motion
3. Reference Systems for Describing Motion
of the Human Body & Its Segments
4. Guidelines for Describing Motion of the
Human Body & Its Segments

27. 1. Distinguish between motion
& position of joints &
segments.
A B

28. 2. Recognize that either
segment can rotate about a
joint.

29. 3. Recognize that bones move
linearly as well as angularly.

30. 4. Understand that movement
generally occurs in oblique planes
around oblique axes.

31. 5. When observing motion,
look at the plane, down the
axis.

32. Summary
1. Identify the system of interest
2. Identify the type(s) of motion of interest
3. Identify the reference system for the motion
4. Describe precisely the temporal & spatial
characteristics of that motion using appropriate
terminology for the situation
 Time
 Position
 Displacement (ROM)
 Velocity
 Acceleration

33. For the next lecture day:
 Lecture Topic #2
 Subtopic C – Vector Algebra