Concepts of Biomechanics

Question 1

Biomechanics

Answer 1

The study of the mechanical laws governing movement of living organisms

Question 2

Kinesiology

Answer 2

The study of the mechanics of human movement in exercise, everyday life, and sport.

Question 3

Anatomical position

Answer 3

The anatomically neutral body position facing forward with the arms at the sides of the body and palms and toes facing straight ahead.

Question 4

Frontal plane

Answer 4

Divides the body into anterior and posterior planes (hip and shoulder abduction)

Question 5

Sagital plane

Answer 5

Divides the body into left and right halves (squat)

Question 6

Transverse plane

Answer 6

Divides the body into inferior and superior halves (anything with rotation)

Question 7

Range of motion

Answer 7

Measurements of movement around a specific joint or body part

Question 8

Balance

Answer 8

An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to maintain its center of gravity within a base of support

Question 9

Equilibrium

Answer 9

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced

Question 10

Stability

Answer 10

The ability to control and maintain control of joint movement or body position.

Question 11

Base of support

Answer 11

The area beneath an object or person that includes every point of contact that the object or person makes with the supporting surface

Question 12

Gravity

Answer 12

The attraction between objects and the Earth.

Question 13

Dynamic balance

Answer 13

The ability to remain upright and balanced when the body and/or arms and legs are in motion.

Question 14

Muscular force

Answer 14

Involves the contraction of a muscle while exerting a force and performing work. It can be concentric (shortening), eccentric (lengthening), or isometric (tension without joint movement

Question 15

Static balance

Answer 15

The ability to remain upright and balanced when the body is at rest

Question 16

Mass

Answer 16

The amount of matter in an object.

Question 17

Weight

Answer 17

The gravitational force of attraction on an object

Question 18

Line of gravity

Answer 18

A vertical line straight through the center of gravity.

Question 19

Joint mobility

Answer 19

The degree of movement around a joint before movement is restricted by surrounding tissues.

Question 20

Joint stability

Answer 20

The ability of the muscles around a joint to control movement or hold the joint in a fixed (stable) position

Question 21

Laws of motion

Answer 21

The ability of the muscles around a joint to control movement or hold the joint in a fixed (stable) position

Question 22

Force

Answer 22

The interaction that creates work or physical change. Its components are magnitude, direction, point of application, and line of action

Question 23

Inertia

Answer 23

The resistance to action or change and describes the acceleration and deceleration of the human body.

Question 24

Acceleration

Answer 24

The rate of change of velocity

Question 25

Deceleration

Answer 25

A special type of acceleration where a person or object is slowing down

Question 26

Velocity

Answer 26

The speed of an object and the direction it takes while moving

Question 27

Force- velocity curve

Answer 27

A representation of the inverse relationship between force and velocity in muscle contraction.

Question 28

Momentum

Answer 28

The quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.

Question 29

Speed

Answer 29

The ability to move the body in one direction as fast as possible

Question 30

Ground reaction force

Answer 30

The force the ground exerts on a body it is in contact with

Question 31

Friction

Answer 31

The resistance of relative motion that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.

Question 32

Compression force

Answer 32

The force of two surfaces pressing toward one another.

Question 33

Tensile force

Answer 33

The force when two surfaces pull apart from one another.

Question 34

Shear force

Answer 34

The force of two surfaces moving across one another.

Question 35

Muscular contraction

Answer 35

The shortening or resistance to lengthening of a muscle fiber.

Question 36

Linear motion

Answer 36

Movement along a line, straight or curved.

Question 37

Angular motion

Answer 37

Rotation around an axis.

Question 38

Axis

Answer 38

Rotation around an axis.

Question 39

Displacement

Answer 39

The distance an object is displaced from a starting point.

Question 40

Distance

Answer 40

The total or sum of the length an object travels

Question 41

Angular displacement

Answer 41

The change of location of an object that is rotating about an axis.

Question 42

Linear displacement

Answer 42

The distance an object moves in a straight line.

Question 43

Mechanical advantage

Answer 43

The ratio of force that creates meaningful movement compared to the force applied to generate the movement.

Question 44

Work

Answer 44

Force times distance measured in foot-pounds

Question 45

Power

Answer 45

The combination of strength and speed—the ability for a muscle to generate maximal tension as quickly as possible.

Question 46

Mechanical work

Answer 46

The amount of energy transferred by a force, the product of force and distance.

Question 47

Levers

Answer 47

A rigid or semirigid bar rotating around a fixed point when force is applied to one end

Question 48

Fulcrum

Answer 48

The point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots

Question 49

Effort arm

Answer 49

The portion of the lever arm between the applied effort and the axis

Question 50

Lever arm

Answer 50

The rigid bar portion of a lever that rotates around the fulcrum.

Question 51

Resistance arm

Answer 51

The portion of the lever arm between the load and the axis.

Question 52

Moment arm

Answer 52

The perpendicular distance between the fulcrum and the line of the force being applied.

Question 53

Torque

Answer 53

Force applied that results in rotation about an axis.

Question 54

Rotary motion

Answer 54

The movement around a fixed axis moving in a curved path.

Question 55

Force arm

Answer 55

The distance between the fulcrum and the force or load application in a lever.

Question 56

Origin

Answer 56

The proximal muscular attachment point to a bone.

Question 57

Insertion

Answer 57

The distal muscular attachment point to a bone.

Question 58

Agonist muscle

Answer 58

The primary muscle used for a mechanical movement

Question 59

Antagonist

Answer 59

Muscle(s) opposing the mechanical movement of a prime mover.

Question 60

Sherrington’s law of reciprocal inhibition

Answer 60

A law that states that for every muscle activation, there is a corresponding inhibition of the opposing muscle

Question 61

Stabilizer muscles

Answer 61

The muscles playing the role of stabilizing or minimizing joint movement

Question 62

Length-tension relationship

Answer 62

The amount of tension a muscle can produce with respect to its length.

Question 63

Force-couple relationship

Answer 63

Two or more muscles acting in different directions that influence the rotation of a joint in a specific direction.

Question 64

Muscle synergies

Answer 64

The activation of a group of muscles to generate movement around a particular joint.