MODULE 6: BIOMECHANICS AND BODY MOVEMENTS
Fundamental Body Movements
Locomotor Movements – movements that move the body from one place to another.
Examples:
Walking – smooth, rhythmic gait.
Running – rapid movement with both feet off ground briefly.
Hopping – jump on one foot and land on the same foot.
Jumping – take off with both feet, land with both.
Leaping – jump from one foot to the other.
Skipping – step-hop pattern.
Galloping – step-slide-step.
Sliding – side-step movement.
Benefits: Improves cardiovascular health, coordination, balance, and endurance.
Non-Locomotor Movements – movements performed without changing location.
Examples:
Bending – flexing forward/backward/sideways.
Stretching – lengthening muscles/joints.
Swaying – gentle side-to-side motion.
Swinging – controlled back-and-forth movement.
Turning – rotating body or part on its axis.
Twisting – rotating while maintaining a stable base.
Shaking – quick repeated motion.
Benefits: Improves flexibility, balance, and body awareness.
Manipulative Movements – controlling or handling objects.
Examples:
Throwing, catching, striking, dribbling, bouncing, kicking.
Benefits: Develops coordination, timing, and fine motor skills.
Biomechanics Defined
Biomechanics – the study of movement and forces acting on living organisms using principles
from physics, biology, and engineering.
“Bio” = life
“Mechanics” = forces and motion
Importance of Biomechanics
Improves sports performance and movement efficiency
Prevents injuries and aids in rehabilitation
Designs better equipment and ergonomic tools
Enhances understanding of body mechanics
Kinematics vs. Kinetics
Aspect Kinematics Kinetics
Describes movement (how the body
Definition Explains forces causing movement
moves)
Focus Position, velocity, acceleration Muscle forces, gravity, friction
Measuring the force in a runner’s
Example Measuring how fast a runner moves
footstrike
Together, they provide a full understanding of human motion.
Principles / Components of Biomechanics
1. Motion – change in body position over time.
2. Force – push or pull acting on the body.
3. Time – duration of movement or reaction.
4. Energy – ability to perform work or movement.
5. Space – area or environment where movement occurs.
Objectives of Biomechanics
Primary Goal: Maximize athletic performance.
Secondary Goal: Prevent injuries and assist rehabilitation.
Applications:
o Analyze movement patterns.
o Improve technique.
o Design effective training.
o Identify injury risks.
Tools Used in Biomechanics
Tool Function
Motion Capture Records 3D movement.
Force Plates Measures ground reaction forces.
Electromyography (EMG) Detects muscle activation.
Goniometer Measures joint angles and flexibility.
Treadmill Studies walking and running patterns.
Dynamometer Measures muscle strength.
Pressure Mats Tracks pressure distribution under the feet.
Modeling Software Creates virtual movement simulations.
Inertial Sensors Tracks real-world body motion.
Ultrasound Views real-time muscle and tendon movement.
Anatomical Terminologies
Directional Terms
Term Meaning Example
Superior (Cranial) Toward the head The head is superior to the chest.
Inferior (Caudal) Away from the head The feet are inferior to the knees.
Term Meaning Example
Anterior (Ventral) Front The chest is anterior to the back.
Posterior (Dorsal) Back The spine is posterior to the ribs.
Medial Toward the midline The nose is medial to the eyes.
Lateral Away from midline The ears are lateral to the eyes.
Proximal Near the point of attachment The elbow is proximal to the wrist.
Distal Farther from attachment The hand is distal to the shoulder.
Superficial Near the surface The skin is superficial to muscles.
Body Planes
Plane Description
Coronal (Frontal) Divides body into front and back.
Sagittal Divides body into right and left.
Median Mid-sagittal plane dividing equal halves.
Transverse (Axial) Divides body into upper and lower parts.
Anatomical Movements
Movement Description
Flexion Bending a joint (reduces angle).
Extension Straightening a joint (increases angle).
Abduction Moving away from midline.
Adduction Moving toward midline.
Medial Rotation Rotating toward the body’s midline.
Lateral Rotation Rotating away from midline.
Elevation / Depression Raising / lowering body part.
Protraction / Retraction Moving forward / backward.
Circumduction Circular movement of a limb.
Opposition / Reposition Thumb to fingers / return.
Pronation / Supination Palm down / palm up.
Inversion / Eversion Foot turns inward / outward.
Dorsiflexion / Plantarflexion Toes up / toes down.
Palmarflexion Flexing wrist toward palm.
Importance of Proper Posture
Maintains body alignment and balance.
Prevents musculoskeletal pain and injuries.
Improves efficiency of movement and breathing.
Enhances sports performance and overall fitness.
Name:
Date:
Section:
Research: Glossary Template - Types of Fundamental Body Movements
Directions: A glossary is a list of terms (and their definitions) that are only applicable to one subject or area of
study. Create a glossary of the terms used to classify fundamental body movements. Search the Internet to
complete this glossary template chart.
Body Type of Movement Filipino Definition
Movement Translation
Balance
Bend
Curl
Dodge
Flex
Gallop
Hop
Jump
Push
Roll
Rotate
Run
Shake
Skip
Slide
Leap
Pull
Rock
Stretch
Sway
Swing
Turn
Twist
Walk
Wiggle
Quiz: Anatomical Terms of Movement
Directions: Match column A with the correct answer on column B, and then write only the letter of answer
on the blank provided before each number.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. Abduction A. A movement that brings the thumb and little finger
together.
2. Adduction B. A movement that moves the thumb and the little
finger away from each other, effectively reversing
opposition.
3. Circumduction C. It can be defined as a conical movement of a limb
extending from the joint at which the movement is
controlled. It is sometimes talked about as a circular
motion, but is more accurately conical due to the
'cone' formed by the moving limb.
4. Depression D. It can be described as the anterolateral movement of
the scapula on the thoracic wall that allows the shoulder
to move anteriorly. In practice, this is the movement of
'reaching out' to something.
5. Dorsiflexion E. It involves the movement of the sole away from the
median plane - so that the sole faces in a lateral
direction.
6. Elevation F. It involves the movement of the sole towards the
median plane - so that the sole faces in a medial
direction.
7. Eversion G. Refers extension at the ankle, so that the foot points
inferiorly.
8. Extension H. Refers to a movement that decreases the angle
between two body parts. For example, movement at the
elbow is decreasing the angle between the ulna and the
humerus. When the knee flexes, the ankle moves
closer to the buttock, and the angle between the femur
and tibia gets smaller.
9. Flexion I. Refers to a movement that increases the angle
between two body parts. For example, movement at the
elbow is increasing the angle between the ulna and the
humerus. Movement of the knee straightens the lower
limb.
10. Inversion J. Refers to a rotating movement away from the
midline.
11. Lateral rotation K. Refers to a rotational movement towards the midline.
It is sometimes referred to as internal rotation.
12. Medial rotation L. Refers to an anatomical term of motion for the
rotation of the forearm or foot. It comes from the root
word of supine, It is the opposite of pronation.
13. Opposition M. Refers to the extension at the palm, so that the palm
points inferiorly.
14. Palmarflexion N. Refers to flexion at the ankle, so that the foot points
more superiorly.
15. Plantarflexion O. Refers to movement away from the midline. For
example, movement of the shoulder raises the arms out
to the sides of the body.
16. Pronation P. Refers to movement in a superior direction (e.g.,
shoulder shrug).
17. Protraction Q. Refers to movement in an inferior direction.
18. Reposition R. Refers to movement towards the midline. For
example, movement of the hip squeezes the legs
together.
19. Retraction S. Refers to the natural side-to-side movement of the
foot as you walk or run.
20. Supination T. Refers to the posteromedial movement of the
scapula on the thoracic wall, which causes the shoulder
region to move posteriorly i.e. picking something up.
ngle between the ulna and the humerus. When the
knee flexes, the ankle moves closer to the buttock, and
the angle between the femur and tibia gets smaller.