Human Movement and Biomechanics

Human Movement and Biomechanics

• Kinesiology is the study of human movement.
• Biomechanics examines movement mechanics, including forces like gravity and friction on the body.
• Kinetics are the forces that cause motion.
• Kinematics describes the motion of the human body.
• Quantitative biomechanical analysis involves accurate measurement and analysis of human movement data.
• Qualitative biomechanical analysis involves observational analysis.
• Motor learning is the acquisition and refinement of movement skills.
• Proprioception is the ability to perceive your body's position and movement.
• Agility is the ability to quickly change direction.
• Balance is the ability to maintain stability.
• Coordination is the ability to use different body parts smoothly and efficiently.
• Force is a push or pull that changes an object's motion.
• Torque is a force that causes rotation.
• Mechanical aspects relate to movement execution.
• Physiological aspects relate to muscle function, energy use, and recovery.
• Velocity is speed in a given direction.
• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
• Center of Gravity is the point where the body's mass is evenly distributed.
• Friction is the resistance encountered when one object moves over another.
• Leverage is using a lever to increase force or motion.
• Linear motion is movement in a straight or curved path.
• Angular motion is movement around an axis.
• General motion is a combination of linear and angular motion.
• A vector is a quantity with both magnitude (size) and direction.
• Horizontal force affects speed, distance, and is parallel to the ground.
• Vertical force affects height, jump, and is perpendicular to the ground.
• Resultant force is the sum of forces acting on an object.
• The force-velocity relationship determines performance; max requires more force and lower velocity, while multiple reps with lower weight require less force and result in more velocity.
• Newton's first law of inertia states that an object remains at rest or in motion unless acted on by an external force.
• Newton's second law of acceleration: Force = Mass x Acceleration.
• Newton's third law of action-reaction states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
• Sequential summation involves small muscles initiating motion, with larger muscles adding force.
• Simultaneous summation involves multiple muscles generating force at the same time.
• Static equilibrium is when there is no motion and all forces are balanced.
• Dynamic equilibrium is when motion is maintained while resisting external forces.
• The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right sides.
• The coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into front and back sides.
• The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into upper and lower parts.

Biomechanics & Movement Principles

• Angular momentum is the quantity of rotation of an object.
• Momentum is the product of mass and velocity and determines motion persistence.
• Impulse is the change in momentum caused by a force applied over time.
• Kinetic energy is energy possessed by a moving object.
• Potential energy is stored energy based on position or state.
• Reaction time is the time between a stimulus and the initiation of a response.
• Summation of forces combines multiple muscle movements for maximum output.
• The skeletal system provides structure, protects organs, manufactures blood cells, serves as attachment points for muscles, and facilitates joint movement.
• Long bones provide leverage for movement.
• Short bones are used for fine motor control.
• Flat bones are used for muscle attachment and protection.
• Irregular bones are used for complex movements and stability.
• Sesamoid bones reduce friction and improve leverage.
• Hinge joints provide flexion and extension.
• Ball and socket joints provide multi-directional movement.
• Pivot joints provide rotational movement.
• Gliding joints provide sliding motion.
• Saddle joints provide multi-axial movement.
• The muscular system generates force for movement, blood transport, and organ protection.
• Skeletal muscles are attached to bone, have striations, and are voluntarily controlled.
• Smooth muscles control internal organs, lack striations, and are involuntary.
• Cardiac muscle is in the heart and is involuntary.
• Appendicular muscles are attached to the bones of the appendicular skeleton (arms and legs).
• Axial muscles are attached to the axial skeleton (middle part of the body and head).
• Dorsal flexion involves foot and toes pointing up.
• Plantar flexion involves foot and toes pointing down.
• Foot inversion involves feet inward, outside ankle down.
• Foot eversion involves feet outward, inside ankle down.
• Abduction moves limbs away from the midline of the body.
• Adduction moves limbs towards the midline of the body.
• The nervous system controls movement by sending electrical signals to muscles and is split into the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
• The somatic nervous system voluntarily responds to stimuli.
• The autonomic nervous system involuntarily regulates internal body functions and splits into sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
• The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for intense activity (fight or flight).
• The parasympathetic nervous system relaxes the body and inhibits high energy functions (rest and digest).
• The divisions of the nervous system are the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).
• There are 5 steps in movement execution: sensory input, neural processing, muscle activation, joint action, and external feedback.

Motor Development & Learning

• Perceptual motor skills combine the four senses and motor skills to interact with the world,
• Visual discrimination is the ability to interpret and respond to visual stimuli.
• Auditory discrimination is the ability to differentiate sounds, recognize patterns, and respond appropriately.
• Tactile discrimination is the ability to interpret and respond to touch stimuli.
• Kinesthetic discrimination (body awareness) is the ability to sense body position, movement, and muscle exertion without visual input.
• Palmer grasp is reflexive and lasts until about 6 months old.
• Pincer grasp is a voluntary fine motor pinching movement.
• Gross motor skills involve movements using large muscle groups.
• Fine motor skills involve movements using small muscles.
• Fundamental movement skills are basic movements like running, jumping, throwing, and catching.
• Team sports are introduced around ages 6-8, becoming more competitive between ages 9-12.
• Motor planning is the ability to execute motor tasks requiring many skills.
• Locomotor skills are movements transporting the body.
• Non-locomotor skills are movements performed without traveling.
• Manipulative skills are movements that involve controlling objects.
• Body awareness is the sense of one's own body and its capabilities.
• Spatial awareness is awareness of surroundings and one's position in relation to them.
• Temporal awareness is being aware of movement and time.
• Motor control is the regulation of movement processes.
• Adam's closed-loop theory states that movements are learned through feedback loops; sensory feedback corrects errors in real time.
• Schmidt's schema theory states, movements are learned and improved by practicing different ways and remembering patterns.
• Fitts and Posner's three-stage model states that skill acquisition progresses through cognitive, associative, and autonomous stages.
• The cognitive stage is the first stage of motor learning, where movements are slow and deliberate.
• The associative stage is the second stage of learning, where movements become smoother.
• The autonomous stage is the final stage of learning, where movements are automatic.
• John Rousseau's behavioral theory emphasizes the importance of natural movement exploration over structured instruction.
• Newell's ecological theory states that learning occurs through interacting with one's surroundings.
• Kelso's dynamic systems theory states that motor learning emerges from all parts of the body working together.
• Dewey and McGraw viewed kinetic energy (movement) as a fundamental force in motor development, shaping skills through experience, adaptation, and practice.
• Piaget's cognitive theory ties motor development to the development of cognitive understanding.
• Gesell's maturation theory claims development is an internal, genetically driven process that occurs in predictable stages.

Exercise Physiology & Health

• Exercise physiology is understanding how your body responds to exercise.
• Physical activity: Any movement of muscles that requires energy
• Fitness: Ability to carry out routine physical tasks without fatigue
• Performance: How well you can complete a physical task
• Health: Overall state of your body and mind
• CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and pulmonary stands for lungs (100 compressions per minute)
• CPR for infants: Use two fingers for compressions, pressing 1.5 inches deep, mouth to mouth over baby mouth and nose.
• Heimlich Maneuver: 5 back blows using heel of hand then 5 thrusts.
• Atherosclerosis: Plaque builds up within arterial walls of heart.
• Emergency situation three C’s: Check, call, care
• Concussions: There is about 4 million per year
• BMI levels: 18.5 below is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, 30 percent and up is obese.
• Cardiorespiratory Endurance – The ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen during exercise.
• Muscular Strength – The maximum force a muscle can exert.
• Muscular Endurance – The ability of muscles to sustain repeated contractions.
• Flexibility – The range of motion around a joint.
• Body Composition – The ratio of fat to lean mass in the body.
• Anaerobic Exercise – High-intensity exercise that does not require oxygen.
• Aerobic Exercise – Low to moderate-intensity exercise that requires oxygen .
• VO2 Max – The maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during exercise.
• Lactic Acid – A byproduct of anaerobic metabolism that can cause muscle fatigue.
• Overload Principle – To improve fitness the body must be exposed to stress beyond normal levels not specifically over time.
• Specificity Principle – Training should be relevant to the desired activity or goal.
• Progression Principle – The need to gradually increase exercise intensity over time.
• FITT Principle – Stands for Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type of exercise.
• Hypertrophy – An increase in muscle size due to exercise.
• Atrophy – A decrease in muscle size due to inactivity.
• EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption) – The body’s need for oxygen after exercise to restore homeostasis.
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) – The number of calories the body needs at rest to maintain basic functions.
• Isometric Contraction - Muscle contraction without movement
• Isotonic Contraction – Muscle contraction with movement
• Concentric Contraction – Muscle shortens while contracting
• Eccentric Contraction - Muscle lengthens while contracting

Fitness, motivation, safety tips

• ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the primary energy source for muscle contractions.
• Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers generate power quickly but fatigue fast.
• Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers contract slowly and resist fatigue.
• Agonist (prime mover): Muscle that contracts and directly cause movement
• Antagonist: Muscle that opposes the agonist
• Ectomorphs: Skinny, speed
• Mesomorph: Muscular, all around athlete, hourglass Figure
• Endomorphs: Big boned, strong, pear shape
• RICE Method – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
• Sprains and strains: Use rice method as care
• Presidential youth physical fitness tests: Curls up, shuttle run, endurance run/walk, pull ups , sit and reach
• Intrinsic Motivation – Motivation driven by personal satisfaction or enjoyment.
• Extrinsic Motivation – Motivation driven by external rewards
• Plyometrics – Exercises that involve explosive movements
• Early childhood ages 0 to 8: Accidents are the number 1 cause of death
• Cerebellum: Responsible for movement
• Corpus Callosum: Band of fibers connecting left/right side of brain which allows kids to think more systematically and get a complete picture.
• Prefrontal lobe: This grows dramatically during middle childhood allowing for better planning problem solving.
• Growth spurt: Increase in bone size, muscles and tendons haven’t caught up causing pain.
• Puberty: Lasts 4 years, girls start before boys at around 11 to 13 years old, boys at around 13 to 15
• Four learning styles: Visual, auditory, reading and writing, Kinesthetic