Biomechanics of Airborne and

Arm-Supported Activities
 Airborne and Arm-Supported
Activities
• Performance success depends on
– Sufficient angular impulse to generate
optimum angular momentum
• Position of body
• Forces generated at takeoff
– Complete aerial rotation and prepare for
landing
• Shape of projectile
• Time available for flight
 Basic principles of airborne and
swinging activities
• Eccentric force (torque) applied can
produce rotation
• Aerial rotation
– Axis of rotation passes through CM
• Swinging activities
– Axis of rotation through grip of hands, bars,
rings, other surfaces
Momentum = Torque
= Force x Distance (┴)
 Basic principles of airborne and
swinging activities
• Generate sufficient torque to provide
angular momentum
– Complete number of rotations
– Prepare for landing
• Prepare speed and time of rotation actions
 Basic principles of airborne and
swinging activities
• Sufficient vertical height

1 2
s = at
2
• Angular velocity can be changed by changing
body position
• Flight path is determined at takeoff, cannot
adjust in airborne
 Basic principles of airborne and
swinging activities
• Time required depends on
– Body position
– Number of rotations
– Angle of takeoff
Determinants of Skilled Movements
• Amplitude
– Bigness of movments
• External amplitude ;
range covered by CM
– Depends on impulse of
propulsive action
Determinants of Skilled Movements
• Amplitude (cont.)
– Bigness of
movments
• Internal amplitude ;
relative ROM of body
segments
– The greater
segmental velocity
and ROM, the greater
the ability to perform
complex elements
Determinants of Skilled Movements
• Segmentation
– Human body is made up of
14 segments
– Skill proficiency is inversely
related to number of
segments used
– Any actions of segment
affects location of CM and
distribution of forces
through body
Determinants of Skilled Movements
• Closure
– Relates to internal amplitude
– Concerned with absolute changes in shape
• Peaking
– Concerned with precise timing of body
changes
 Rotary Motion
• CG and axis of
rotation
• Angular momentum
– Mass
– Radius of gyration
– Angular velocity
 Initiating Rotations
• Ground reaction
rotations
– Initiate rotation around
ML (somersaulting) and
longitudinal (twisting)
axes
– CG is ahead of line of
action of GRF
– External torque is
created about ML axis
through performer’s CG
 Initiating Rotations in Air
• Reaction rotation
– Movements of arms, legs or trunk causes
reaction or movement response of rest of
system in opposite direction
 Initiating Rotations in Air
• Cat rotation
– Complicated version
of reaction rotation
 Initiating Rotations in Air
• Twist for somersault
– The most common
technique used
– Body must have angular
momentum established
about axis at takeoff
Mechanics of Arm-Supported Skills
• Rotations in vertical plane are affected by
gravity
– Motive in descent
– Resistive in ascent
• Rotations in horizontal plane get no motive
impulse from gravity
 Swing
• 3 forces and a couple act upon
– W = weight
– R = reaction force exerted by bar
• Normal (centripetal) component
• Tangential component
– A = air resistance
– M = resultant moment of frictional forces
 Swing
• Weight
 Swing
• Centripetal component
– Repeatedly change direction
– CG moves along curved path
– 4 times bw as swing under bar in giant swing
• Tangential component
– Eccentric force; serves to accelerate in
direction about axis
 Swing
• Moment