Unit 2 - Biomechanics
“Perfection is a Road, NOT a
Destination”
What is Biomechanics?
• is the sport science field that applies the laws of
mechanics and physics to human performance
• Cause and effect
• In relation to sport, biomechanics contributes to
the description, explanation, and prediction of the
mechanical aspects of human exercise, sport and
play.
What types of Science are involved?
• Biology – muscles, bones, joints
• Physics – laws of motion, center of gravity,
friction, projectile motion
• Mathematics – angle of release, range of
motion
• …..alot more
Background Information
In order to be effective at maximizing human
performance for skills, you will need to know
• What the anatomical position is
• What muscles perform what motion, and
what bones each major muscle group moves
• What each joints R.O.M. is (Range of Motion)
• What certain angles of release may be
• Phases of skill analysis
Anatomical Position – Where we
would describe the body positions
Basic Body Directions
• Anterior vs. Posterior – front or back of the
neutral anatomical position
• Superior vs. Inferior – up or down in relation
to another part
• Medial vs. Lateral – inside vs. outside of a
body part or object
• Left or Right – ummmm, it’s the same. But it’s
always from the person’s view, not the
observer.
Question #4 Try These
1. Where is the arms in relation to the
midline of the body?
2. Where is the right foot in relation to the
midline of the body?
3. The hands are where in relation to the
shoulder joint?
Basic Body Movements
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•
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•
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Flexion – decrease the angle of a joint
Extension – increase the angle of a joint
Abduction – bring away from the midline
Adduction – bring close the midline
Circumduction – circular movement of a joint.
Ex. Drawing a circle with your wrist
Rotation – rotating a joint medially or laterally
Question #6 - Tee it up!
• What movement is the
left elbow joint
performing?
• What movement is the
right shoulder
performing?
• What movement is the
right hip performing?
Throwing a Dodgeball
• What body parts move to what directions?
Foot moves Anterior for balance
Hand and Forearm move to the Posterior in my
backswing
Hand is slightly MEDIAL, to the Elbow which is LATERAL
to the Hand
Arm quickly moves Anterior with Elbow leading the way
May finish with your arm in an INFERIOR position.
Throwing a Dodgeball
• What body joints are involved in what
movements throwing a dodgeball?
Back Swing
Elbow Joint Flexion
Shoulder Joint Abduction
Shoulder Joint Extension
Acceleration
Circumduction of the Shoulder
Medial Rotation of the Shoulder
Extension of the Elbow
Flexion of the Wrist
Balance and Stability
• Balance and Stability Lab – review questions.
• Balance is effected by the following 3
concepts:
• Base of Support
• Center of Mass
• Line of Gravity
Boys vs. Girls
• Males have more muscle mass in their upper
body and more density therefore they have a
higher Center of Mass.
• Females have a Lower Center of Mass for the
opposite reason. (less mass in the upper
body).
Experiment
• Task #1 – Try to stand up
• Task #2 – Pick up the Chair
• Task #3 – Pick up the Cash!!
• Summary?
How does this stuff apply to Sport?
• Article “Making Strides Athlete Development”
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•
•
•
What are the examples they reviewed?
Taylor Hall?
Swimmers?
Wrestlers?
Balance/Stability Video Analysis
• Discuss the Importance of Video Analysis in
Sport and Coaching
• Advantages?
Biomechanical Drawings
• Stick figure representations of movement.
SKELETON REFERENCE!
• Help to simplify movement of the body’s
mechanics and the placement of proper
position and errors.
Phases for stick figures should be at least in the
following phases: Prepartory/Preliminary,
Backswing, Acceleration and Contact Points,
Follow Through
See Examples
• Sample Video
• Zygote Body
• Here’s what they look like.
Example #1
Example #2
• Phases of Running
Handstand
See video
Remember the Phases of Skills
• Preliminary Phase – lead up, starting postion
• Backswing/Recovery Phase – getting the body
into initial motion, backswings, getting ready to
produce force
• Force Producing Movements – the movements
involved to produce the force needed for impact
or propulsion.
• Critical Instant – The moment of release or
contact.
• Follow Through – the movements that occur after
contact or release
Cartwheel or Handstand
See tutorial
Cartwheel Tutorial
With your partners, go back again and execute a
cartwheel…….using video from the side, front
and back.
Human Levers
• In biomechanics, the bones function to facilitate
movement, and are to help with the human
levers.
• All levers have three things
• Fulcrum – point at the which the lever rotates
• Load – Force added to the system
• Effort – Force applied by the user to the system.
• Eg Basic Bicep Curl with 20 lbs.