BIOMECHANICS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT

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Biomechanics combination of the sciences of applied anatomy & mechanical physics, focuses on the forces & movement techniques associated with performance enhancement & injury prevention in sports, exercise & other motion activities.

Application of mechanical principles in the study of living organisms. Mechanics branch of physics that analyzes the actions of forces on particles & mechanical systems.

Static branch of mechanics dealing with systems in a constant state of motion. Dynamics branch of mechanics dealing with systems subject to acceleration.

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Kinematics study of the description of motion in term of position (displacement), velocity & acceleration. Kinetics study of the action of forces.

Linear motion point-to-point, straight line movement of a body in space Angular motion measurement of how a rigid lever rotating about an axis & its quantified through the use of polar coordinate system

Scalar values variable that can be described in terms of magnitude only. Vector values magnitude that is measured in particular direction/along an axis/plane.

Velocity, acceleration, speed, deceleration, distance, displacement. Sports biomechanics how athletes generate the mechanical techniques for successful performance.

BASIC BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES

SPRINTING 2 major phases : Support phase Swing phase

Support phase high muscle forces are generated to accelerate or maintain the sprinters velocity Swing phase runner is airborne & the leg segments are in recovery, one preparing to strike the ground the other beginning to swing forward from a position behind the body.

Over striding results in slower running velocity. Stride rate is the number taken per unit Stride length is he distance as measured along the ground between foot positions at takeoff & landing for the same foot.

To create a high stride rate with an appropriate stride length fast rotation of the leg segments around the joints.

Upper leg must be able to rotate rapidly around the hip joint in the bodys sagittal plane in both flexion & extension.

The flexion motion is important in the recovery of the upper leg during the swing phase, the extension is important for moving the leg & foot to the ground.

The flexion motion begins before the foot loses contact with the ground & continues until the upper leg reaches its maximum flexion knee lift recovery.

The faster the this action completed the shorter the swing time of the leg.

Provided the recovery (swing) is adequate to allow for good leg preparation for the upcoming support phase (shorten the time).

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the point of maximum hip flexion, upper leg rotates to the ground with the initiation of hip flexion.

The greater the amount of hip flexion at the end of the swing phase, the more distance the sprinter has to accelerate the upper leg into extension brings the foot to the ground. Fast rotation of the upper leg around the hip joint will enable better landing mechanics of the foot.

Fast rotation of the upper of the hip extension can be maintained as the support phase continue, sprinter is able to accelerate at a higher rate or maintain running velocity while requiring a shorter time to the foot on the ground. Shorter time on the ground increases the stride rate

To enhance recovery of the leg from the takeoff position until foot contact, knee joint must be flexed to an extreme angle & maintained there for a substantial portion of the swing phase.

After take off with the hip flexing, the knee flexes, bringing the heel close to the buttocks shorten the leg lever (making it easier for the hip flexor muscles to swing the leg forward into knee lift position)

Angle is maintained for much of the middle portion of the leg swing phase and combined with near maximum muscle activity from the hip flexors time for leg swing is diminished.

Sprint velocity decreases during last portion of the race, poor swing mechanics of the leg. Just before the ground impact of the foot, hamstring muscles contract forcefully to halt the knee extension that occurs at the end of the swing phase. Action of hamstring causes knee flexion early portions of the support phase.

Combination with hip extension knee flexion reduces braking force that occurs when the foot strikes the ground. Braking force is a result of a forwardmoving foot at initial ground impact.

Rapidly extend the hip & flexing the knee from the high knee lift position until ground impact less breaking force less deceleration.