UNIT – 8

FUNDAMENTAL OF KINESIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS IN SPORTS

Kinesiology:
Kinesiology is the study of mechanics of ‘body Movement. In this, movements of human body is
Studied. Human body has a complex process of motions Which are governed by the principles of
Biology and Mechanics’. Kinesiology puts more emphasis on the Principles of mechanics but it
is also related with the Principles of biology. So, Kinesiology deals with the Biology and
Mechanics of bodily movements,

Definition and Importance of Kinesiology and Biomechanics in Sports

Definition of Kinesiology
Kinesiology is the science in which the mechanics Of movement of the body, the use of various
sports Equipment’s and rectifying the various bodily Movements during sports, are studied.
Applying The principles of Kinesiology can help improve the Performance of sportspersons.
Importance of Kinesiology in Sports:
1. Helpful in Showing Better Performance with Less Energy: Through the knowledge of
anatomy, Physiology and kinesiology, a player, according To his ability and speed, can perform
better With lesser amount of energy, For example, Knowledge of the correct angle while
throwing can Enhance performance of an athlete. Selection of Shoes and kit also helps to
enhance performance.
2. Helpful to Understand the Basics of Speed Skill: Activities in sports can be done easily by
Understanding the basics of body movements and Speed skill through the knowledge of
anatomy, Kinesiology and physiology. On the basis of speed Skill, better results can be obtained
even After putting less efforts by the body.
3. Helpful in Co-ordination of Sports Equipment ‘s and Body Movements: Through
kinesiology, we Can get to know the ways of body movements and How to adjust the sports
equipment’s, to improve The performance. This information is provided Through kinesiology. It
is also helpful in the Selection of sports instruments and shape of The ground to make sports
favorable.
4. Helpful in Knowing Correct Body Position in Sports Activities: A sports-man’s
performance Is affected by the correct position of his bobody.Favorable of the body helps to
Accomplish success in the sports For example, in Some activities in which stability is required,
we can Change the body’s center of gravity upward Or downward. During starting of a race,
center of Gravity depends on the position of our body. All these Things can be dealt with, with
the help of kinesiology.
Meaning and definition of Biomechanics:
Biomechanics’ is made up of two words. Bio’ which Deals with organisms or living things and
‘Mechanics’ Which deals with the powers of physics that apply to Organisms or living things
(dynamic). Biomechanics is a topic of physical education. Through it, the motion of A person
has to be used for power,
Biomechanics is the study and analysis of the Methods of human activities in sports.
Biomechanics is the study of the structure, Function and motion of mechanical aspects of
Biological systems at any level from all organisms.To organs, cells and cell organs using
methods of Mechanics.
Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical laws Relating to the movement or structure of
living
Organism.
Biomechanics is the study of internal and External forces on the human body and its motions,
Which apply to its organs.
Importance of Biomechanics in Sports

1. Improvement in Technique: On the basis of knowledge of mechanics, players and

coaches can Improve performance; mechanics can properly Execute the skills of the
player. For example, The player’s knowledge of Newton’s Third Law Is helpful in
starting a fast race while starting a Other new techniques such as the use of cycling Race
Performance can be improved by adopting
2. Improvement in Equipment/Apparatus: Mechanics are helpful in improving the
format
Of the equipments used in the field of sports. For example, the kit used for each game has been
Improved. The change in the costumes of the Athlete is the result of mechanics.
3. Improvement in Training/Coaching: On the Basis of knowledge of mechanics, the
coach is Able to analyze each activity/action of the players While also analyzing that
whether the player’s Closely and in the proper execution of their skills, Power, speed etc.
are being used properly or not. In addition, whether the technique adopted by The player
is suitable for the best performance or Not. The study of all the above dimensions cannot
Be possible without knowledge of biomechanics. Therefore, it is helpful to study the
activities of The players in the right and proper guidance.
 4. Improvement in Performance: Both coaches And players work hard to improve the
performance. But sometimes, even after hard work, the expected Results are not
achieved. Under this circumstance, The knowledge of biomechanics gives them the Best
results. Knowledge of the principles of Biomechanics and hard work is successful in
giving expected results because, on the basis of knowledge Of mechanics, the coach is
successful in guiding the Player properly by observing and analyzing the Speed, power,
endurance and actions.

5. Prevention from Injuries: Based on the Knowledge of biomechanics, the player is

aware
Of all the things that protect him from physical Damage along with his good performance.
When, How much, and in which direction to use force? The principles of biomechanics are
followed in the Construction and reconstruction of sports grounds. Biomechanics are also helpful
in rehabilitation Of injuries. Based on the knowledge of these Principles, the player also changes
his technique And skills so that the injury can be avoided.
6. Safety: Safety is a key aspect on the playing field Biomechanics informs the movement of the
Organs and joints of the body. The performance Of the player is based on his speed, strength and
Co-ordination of his quantity and time. The player Has knowledge of internal and external
powers on The actions performed by his body, which helps Him to stay safe. The contraction and
transmission Of muscles and the amount, speed and time of Rotation on the axis of the joint of
bones determine The safety of the player. The player’s knowledge of The movement of muscles
and joints is reserved. And, the player succeeds in giving the best Performance by taking care of
himself and other Players.
7. Improvement in Learning Process: Knowledge Of biomechanics makes learning process
simple And interesting. Based on the principles of Biomechanics, learning consumes less energy
and Good results are achieved quickly. For example, if A player does not have full knowledge of
proper Techniques and skills, the process of learning The activity is slow; as a result, the player
is Discouraged towards the activity and fails in the Best performance. In conclusion, it can be
said that Biomechanics has a very important contribution In the field of sports. With the
application of Biomechanics, achievements have been made Possible in many fields of sports. As
a result of This, new records are being established. Along with This, there has also been success
in reducing the Risk of injury in sports.

Types of Body Movements-

Movement involves an entity moving from a particular Point to another point. The movement is
carried out Around a fixed axis or fulcrum and has a direction. Movement types are generally
paired, with one Being the opposite of the other. The various types of Movements in joints are:
1. Flexion: Flexion is the bending of a particular Joint so that the bones that form that joint
Are pulled closer together. During flexion, the Angle between the bones of the limb at a joint is
Decreased. Flexion typically occurs when muscles Contract and the bones thus move the nearby
joint Into a curved or bent position.

2. Extension: Extension is the opposite of flexion, Describing a straightening movement

that
Increases the angle between body parts. For Example, when standing up, the knees are
Extended. Extension refers to movement in the Posterior direction.
3. Abduction: Abduction is any motion of the Limbs or other body parts that pulls away
from
The midline of the body to lateral direction. For Example, swinging the hands from the side of
the
4. Adduction: Adduction is the movement of a body Part towards the body’s midline. So, if
a person Has his arms straight out at the shoulders and Brings them down to their sides, it
is adduction. Closing arms to the chest or bringing knees together are other examples of
adduction.

5. Rotation: Rotation Can occur within the Vertebral column, At a pivot joint, or At a ball-
and-socket Joint. Rotation of the Neck or body is the Twisting movement Produced by
the Summation of the Small rotational Movements available Between adjacent Vertebrae.
At a Pivot joint, one bone Rotates in relation To another bone. This is a uniaxial joint,
and thus Rotation is the only motion allowed at a pivot joint.
Rotation can also occur at the ball-and-socket Joints of the shoulder and hip. Here, the humerus
And femur rotate around their long axis, which Moves the anterior surface of the arm or thigh
Either toward or away from the midline of the Body. Movement that brings the anterior surface
Of the limb toward the midline of the body is called Medial (internal) rotation. Conversely,
rotation
Of the limb so that the anterior surface moves Away from the midline is lateral (external)
Rotation.
6. Circumduction: It is the movement of a body Region in a circular manner, in which one
end of The body region being Moved stays relatively Stationary while the Other end
describes A circle. It involves The sequential combination of flexion, Adduction,
 extension, And abduction at a Joint. This type of Motion is found at Biaxial condyloid
and Saddle joints, and at Multiaxial balland Sockets joints.

7. Supination: Supination is a movement of the Forearm. In the anatomical position, the

upper Limb is held next to the body with the palm facing Forward. This is the supinated
position of the Forearm. In this position, the radius and ulna are parallel to each other.
Supination is the opposite Motion, in which rotation of the radius returns the Bones to
their parallel positions and moves the Palm to the anterior facing (supinated) position. It
Helps to remember that supination is the motion You use when scooping up soup with a
spoon.

8. Pronation: When the palm of the hand faces Backward, the forearm is in the pronated
position, And the radius and ulna form an X-shape. Pronation is the motion that moves
the forearm From the supinated (anatomical) position to the Pronated (palm backward)
position. This motion is Produced by rotation of the radius at the proximal radioulnar
joint, accompanied by movement of the radius at the distal radioulnar joint.