Chapter 1
Basic Concepts in
Kinesiology:Kinematics
"Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.“
-Author Unknown
Introduction
• Biomechanics is the application of the
principles of mechanics to the living human
body. Kinesiology is actually a combination of
art and science; it involves an appreciation of
the beauty of human movement with an
understanding of the scientific principles that
provide that movement.
Kinesiology Terminology
Human Movement: Kinetics and Kinematics
• Kinetics concentrates on the forces that
produce or resist the movement.
• Kinematics, on the other hand, deals with type
of motion or movement without regard for
the force that produce that motion.
Planes of Motion and Axes of Motion
The human body moves in three planes of
motion in the world. These planes of motion
are called cardinal planes of motion (Fig. 1.3).
The three axes around which these planes
rotate, in physics terms, are x, y, and z.
Frontal Plane
The frontal plane is also known as the coronal
plane (XY plane), so named because it is
parallel to the frontal bone along the coronal
skull suture.
*Abduction and adduction (hip, shoulder,
digits)
*Ulnar and radial deviation (a type of
abduction/adduction at the wrist)
*Lateral flexion or bending (neck, trunk)
Sagittal Plane
The sagittal plane (YZ plane) is so named
because it is parallel to the sagittal suture of
the skull, dividing the body into right and left
sides.
The clearest examples of joint motions
occurring in the sagittal plane are defined as
flexion and extension (neck, trunk, elbow and
many others) and dorsiflexion and
plantarflexion (ankle).
Horizontal Plane
The horizontal or transverse plane is so named
because it is parallel to the horizon and the
floor (XY plane). It divides the body into upper
and lower parts.
*Medial and lateral rotation (hip and
shoulder)
*Pronation and supination (forearm)
*Eversion and inversion (foot)
Naming Movements at joints
Naming Movements at joints
Naming Movements at joints
Naming Movements at joints
Naming Movements at joints
Naming Movements at joints
Osteokinematics: Joint Motion in Terms of
Position and Type
• Definition
Osteokinematics regards the movement of our
bony levers through their ranges of motion.
This motion is produced by muscles.
Osteokinematics describes the movement that
occurs between the shafts of two adjacent
bones as the two body segments move with
regard to each other.
Description of Types of Motion
• Translatory Motion
• Rotary Motion
• Degrees of Freedom
Distal segments can have higher degrees of freedom
than do proximal ones
• End Feel
Rotary and Translatory Motion
Movements are described as occurring around an
axis or a pivot point, identified by mechanical
terms as rotary motion, angular motion, or
rotation
Translatory motion is used to describe movement
of a body in which all of its parts move in the same
direction with equal velocity
Degrees of freedom
Joints that move in one plane possess one axis and
have one degree of freedom
If a joint has two axes, the segments can move in
two planes, and the joint is said to possess two
degrees of freedom motion
Ball-and-socket joint such as the hip joints, which
permit flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, and
transverse rotation, are said to possess three
degrees of freedom
Degrees of Freedom
Degrees of Freedom
Normal End-Feel
When a normal joint is moved passively to the end
of its range of motion, resistance to further motion
is felt by the examiner
The resistance is also called physiological end-feel
Kinematic Chains
A combination of several joints uniting
successive segments constitutes a kinematic
chain (There are two …)
Open and Closed Kinematic Chains
Open and closed kinematic chains
In an open kinematic chain, the distal segment of
the chain moves in space whereas in a closed
kinematic chain, the distal segment is fixed, and
proximal parts move (Steindler,1995)
In the upper extremity, open-chain motion occurs
when reaching or bringing the hand to the mouth,
and closed-chain motion occurs when performing a
chin-up
Closed kinematic chain motion
Arthrokinematics
Arthrokinematics is concerned with the movement
of the articular surfaces in relation to the direction
of movement of the distal extremity of the bone
(osteokinematics)
Ovoid joint surfaces
The ovoid articular surfaces of two bones from a
convex-concave paired relationship
Sellar joint surfaces
Jointshave both convex and concave surface on
each articulating bone
Movement of joint surfaces
Rolling or rocking
Sliding or gliding
Spinning
Convex-Concave Relationships
Convex-concave principles.
Convex joint surfaces move in the opposite
direction to the bone segment
Concave articular surfaces moves in the same
direction as the bone segment
Knee joint center moves
resting Sliding to left Rolling to right
Joint center moves a lot
How to pack (unite) bones to a joint?
Close-Packed Joint Positions
Open-Packed Positions
Close-packed Position
The ovoid surfaces of joint pairs match each other
perfectly in only one position of the joint.
This point congruency is called the close-packed
position
In this position, (1) the maximum area of surface
contact occurs, (2) the attachments of the ligaments
are farthest apart and under tension, (3) capsular
structures are taut, (4) the joint is mechanically
compressed and difficult to distract
Close-packed Position
The close-packed position usually occurs at one
extreme in the range of motion. This is in full
extension at the elbow, wrist, hip, and knee;
dorsiflexion at the ankle; and flexion at the
metacarpophalangeal joints
Open-packed Position
In all other position, the ovoid joint surfaces do not
fit perfectly but are incongruent and called open-
packed, or loose-packed
Accessory Motions
In addition to angular motions such as flexion or
abduction, joint surfaces can be moved passively a
few millimeters in translatory motion.
These small motions called accessory movements
or joint play (It is indeed a movement of joint
surface)
When does it occur?
Open-packed? or
Closed-packed positions?
Clinical Applications
Joint mobilization techniques
Normally, ligament and capsular structures limit
passive accessory motions in open-packed
positions.
Has been severed or stretched out, the accessory
motion that the ligament controls will be excessive
or hypermobile.
Discussion Questions
• How are both stability and mobility achieved
by the human body through joint structure?
• What are the pros and cons of open and
closed chain exercises? What is the functional
relevance of both?