Introduction to Biomechanics

• Biomechanics studies how biological organisms react to external forces and stimuli.
• It also focuses on how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together for movement.

Elements of Biomechanics

• Motion is the movement or change in position of a body or object due to force.
• Force is a push or pull that can accelerate, decelerate, stop, or change the direction of an object or person.
• Force can cause a stationary object to move or stop a moving object.
• Applying force can affect an objects speed and direction.
• Momentum is the product of weight and velocity during movement.
• Greater mass or speed results in greater momentum.
• Levers in biomechanics consist of three parts: the resistance arm, fulcrum, and effort (load); arms and legs function as levers.
• Balance refers to stability; the alignment of the body's center of gravity over the base of support is a fundamental principle.

Principles Used in Biomechanics

• Dynamics is the study of moving systems undergoing acceleration and deceleration.
• Kinematics describes the effect of forces on a system.
• Kinematics includes linear and angulate variations in velocity, position, displacement, speed, and acceleration.
• Kinetics studies what generates motion including the forces and duration at work.
• Statics examines systems at equilibrium, whether at rest or moving at a constant velocity.

Objectives of Biomechanics

• Primary objective: to increase athletic performance.
• Secondary objective: to provide recommendations for injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Fundamental Body Movements

• Fundamental body movements are the basis for physical activities like games, sports, and recreation.
• These skills are a specific collection that include the use of various body parts.
• There are 2 types of fundamental body movements:
• Locomotor movements refer to body movements where the body travels from one location to another like walking or running
• Non-locomotor movements, sometimes called axial movements, are movements that do not allow the body to travel

Fundamental Movement Skills

• Fundamental movement skills require the use of different body parts like feet, legs, shoulders, body, head, arms, and hands.
• These skills are the foundation for more advanced skills needed for games, sports, and leisure activities.
• Fundamental movement skills fit into three categories:
• Body management skills: balance, equilibrium, postural control during motion/stillness involving rolling, stopping, stretching, bending, twisting, landing, climbing, and turning
• Locomotor skills: transporting the body from one point to another in any direction like walking, running, jumping, hopping, galloping, marching, or skipping
• Object control skills: uses implements and objects like balls, hoops, bats, and ribbons with the use of body parts like hands and feet

Movement Concepts

• Body awareness: understanding where body parts are in space and how they move; involves controlling and coordinating body parts for effective movement.
• Spatial awareness: understanding where one is in relation to the space around them and how the body moves within that space.
• Directional awareness: choosing, following, and changing directions accurately while moving, whether in a straight line, curve, or through a more complex route.
• Temporal awareness: understanding the timing, rhythm, and duration of movements: how long a movement lasts, how quickly or slowly it occurs, and how movements fit into patterns over time.
• Relationship awareness: how the body interacts with other bodies or objects in space; coordinating movements in relation to others.

Movement Principles

• Movement principles provide a solid foundation for physical activities in any environment, with or without equipment.
• The application of these principles refines as movement competence improves.
• Balance: the capacity to maintain the body's line of gravity within the support base with minimal postural sway.
• Centering: the human body's core is where all body movements emanate and hold one together while moving.
• Center of gravity: the balance point where the body's weight is distributed equally across all sides.
• Posture: the body's presumed position either with support during muscle activity or a coordinated action by a group of muscles working to maintain stability.
• Gesture: using the body to convey emotions and ideas through movement patterns as an expressive instrument.
• Rhythm: the pattern and emphasis of beats.
• Breathing: the use of inhalation and exhalation to give fluidity and harmony to a person's movement.