Movement Patterns &

Key Features
Movement Taxonomy
Today
• Movement Patterns
• squat, lunge, hinge, push, pull

• Movement Features
• knees, back (spine), shoulders “Nothing is more revealing
than movement.”
• Movement Competency Martha Graham
• Physical Literacy Screen

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Assessment Components
Mobility
• rule-out joint range-of-motion deficits
• ankles, hips, shoulders

Physical Literacy
• movement competency
• 5 patterns, 7 key features
• 3 fitness domains (reps, tempo, work)

Physical Capacity
• strength, power/speed, endurance
• activity-specific (work/life/play)

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Mobility Screen
surveilled static alignment at distinct events during movements to rule-out RoM inadequacies
• instantaneous positions observed

did not surveil dynamic alignment to assess movement coordination and control capabilities
• continuous patterns of motion not observed

pattern
(motion between positions)

position position
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Source: Myer et al. (2011). Real-time assessment and neuromuscular training feedback techniques to prevent
ACL injury in female athletes. Strength and Conditioning Journal 33(3): 21-35.

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 vGRFpeak = 5 X BW
Jump Height = 20 cm

vGRFpeak = 4 X BW
Jump Height = 25 cm

Khuu et al. (2014) KIN204 8

≠" ≠" ≠"

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Frost et al. (2013)
movement patterns matter

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5 Whole-Body Movements … can be generally classified as (combinations of):
vertical horizontal vertical horizontal unilateral bilateral
(direction) (direction) (direction) (direction) (stance) (stance)

unilateral unilateral standing

(1-arm) (1-arm) (position)

PUSHING PULLING HINGING

bilateral bilateral bridging

(2-arm) (2-arm) (position)

vertical horizontal vertical horizontal unilateral bilateral

(direction) (direction) (direction) (direction) (stance) (stance)

bilateral bilateral
(2-leg symmetrical) (2-leg asymmetrical) anteroposterior mediolateral
(direction) (direction)

SQUATTING
LUNGING
unilateral
(1-leg)
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 5 Whole-Body Movement Patterns

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Frost et al. (2014)
7 Key Movement Features (Knees, Back, Shoulders)

frontal plane foot–ground contact

motion control pressure (CoP) control

sagittal plane frontal plane

motion control motion control
KNEES (spine flexion/extension) (spine lateral bend/flexion)
(N=2)

BACK
(N=3)

SHOULDERS
(N=2) transverse plane
motion control
(spine axial twist/rotation)

elevation/depression protraction/retraction
motion control motion control

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 7 Key Movement Features

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Frost et al. (2014); Frost et al. (2015)
Knee Features

Knee Aligned

• view from front

• visualize line from hip-to-toes
• knee position is:
• medial to line (✗) ≅ knee “valgus”
• on-the-line (✓) ≅ knee aligned
• lateral to line (✗) ≅ knee “varus”

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Knee Features

Mid-Foot Pressure

• view from side

• visualize line from CoM through foot arch
• bodyweight is positioned:
• in-front of line (✗) ≅ weight on toes
• on-the-line (✓) ≅ weight centred on mid-foot
• behind line (✗) ≅ weight on heels

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Back Features

Neutral Alignment (Sagittal)

• view from side/back

• visualize 2 lines through pelvis & thorax
• with respect to relaxed standing, lines are:
• closer together (✗) ≅ spine extended
• same distance apart (✓) ≅ spine neutral
• farther apart (✗) ≅ spine flexed

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Back Features

Neutral Alignment (Frontal)

• view from front/back

• visualize 2 lines through pelvis & thorax
• lines are:
• closer on left-side (✗) ≅ left lateral bend
• parallel (✓) ≅ spine neutral
• closer on right-side (✗) ≅ right lateral bend

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Back Features

Neutral Alignment (Transverse)

• view from front/back/side

• visualize 2 lines through pelvis & thorax
• lines show:
• shoulders rotating more than hips (✗) ≅ axial twist
• shoulders and hips rotating together (✓) ≅ spine neutral
• hips rotating more than shoulders (✗) ≅ axial twist

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Shoulder Features

Shoulder-to-Ear Distance

• view from front/back/side

• visualize 2 lines through ears & shoulders
• with respect to relaxed standing, lines are:
• closer together (✗) ≅ both shoulders elevated
• same distance apart (✓) ≅ shoulders neutral
• closer together on one side (✗) ≅ 1 shoulder elevated

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Shoulder Features

Shoulder-Elbow Move Together

• view from front/back/side

• visualize line from shoulder to elbow
• ends of the line:
• move in opposite directions (✗)
• move in same direction (✓)
• only one end moves (✗)

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Physical literacy is a relatively novel and evolving construct with most of the research and its application being on children.
However, as originally defined and conceived, physical literacy applies to all people across their lifespan, and integrates theories
and evidence from affective, physical, cognitive, and behavioural domains. In Canada, physical literacy is defined as:

“…the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and
take responsibility for engagement in physical activity for life.” (source)

Physical literacy has been proposed as a health determinant because it effectively serves as a “gateway” to physical activity
participation (including and especially exercise). Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that:

…individuals who lack the skills, confidence, competence and knowledge to be physically active
are less likely to participate in physical activity…” (source)

In fact, Cairney et al. (2019) offered a compelling argument that physical literacy and physical activity are reciprocating and
mutually reinforcing (next slide)…

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 “Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge
and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical
activities for life.” International Physical Literacy Association (2014)

Four inter-acting and inter-dependent elements:

1. affective (motivation, confidence)

2. physical (movement competence)
3. cognitive (knowledge, understanding)
4. behavioural (physical activity engagement across lifespan)

https://physicalliteracy.ca
Cairney et al. (2019). Sport Med 49(3):371-83.
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Movement Competency Assessment Tool
Frost et al. (2015). JSCR 29(9):2417-2425.
Frost et al. (2015). WORK 52(1):11-18.
Frost et al. (2015). JEK 25(3):479-497.

PHYSICAL)LITERACY)SCREEN)
Knee,%Low%Back%and%Shoulder%Control%

7 Key Features 15)REPETITIONS)/)SIDE)

(knees, back, shoulders)

1)LEG)SQUAT) KN)/)BK) FRONT)LUNGE) KN)/)BK) 1)LEG)RDL) KN)/)BK) 1)ARM)PLANK) )BK)/)SH) 1)ARM)ROW) BK)/)SH)

Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons)

1. Stance%heel%must%remain%on%the%floor.% 1. Each%lunge%must%be%conHnuous%moHon.% 1. Stance%heel%must%remain%on%the%floor.% 1. Hands%shoulder%width,%feet%>%shoulders.% 1. Hands%shoulder%width,%feet%>%shoulders.%

5 Movement Patterns
2. Squat%to%knee%angle%of%90°.%% 2. Lunge%forwards%to%knee%angle%of%90°.%% 2. Hinge%to%hip%angle%of%90°.%% 2. Touch%hand%to%opposite%shoulder.% 2. Touch%hand%to%opposite%shoulder.%
3. Alternate%legs.%Provide%feedback.% 3. Alternate%legs.%Provide%feedback.% 3. Alternate%legs.%Provide%feedback.% 3. Alternate%arms.%Provide%feedback.% 3. Alternate%arms.%Provide%feedback.%

30)SECONDS)CONTINUOUS)
(squat, lunge, hinge, push, pull)

JUMP)SQUAT) LAT)LUNGE) HIP)BRIDGE) HAND)STAND) PULLGUP)HANG)

3 Fitness Domains
KN)/)BK) KN)/)BK) KN)/)BK) )BK)/)SH) BK)/)SH)

Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons) Instruc?ons)

1. Each%jump%must%be%conHnuous%moHon.% 1. Each%lunge%must%be%conHnuous%moHon.% 1. Leg%moHon%must%be%conHnuous.% 1. Hands%shoulder%width,%1R1.5%T%from%wall.% 1. Hands%shoulder%width,%prone/neutral%grip.%
2. Jump,%land,%squat%to%knee%angle%of%90°.%% 2. Lunge%sideways%to%knee%angle%of%90°.%% 2. Raise%hips,%flex%one%hip%to%90°.%% 2. Legs%straight,%feet%supported.% 2. Legs%straight,%feet%uncrossed.%
3. Provide%feedback.% 3. Alternate%legs.%Provide%feedback.% 3. Alternate%legs.%Provide%feedback.% 3. Provide%feedback.% 3. Provide%feedback.%

(reps, work, tempo) 10)REPS)/)15)SECONDS)

bodyweight only AIR)SQUAT) KN)/)BK) BACK)LUNGE) KN)/)BK) GOOD)MORN) KN)/)BK) PUSHGUP) )BK)/)SH) INV)ROW) BK)/)SH)

minimal equipment Instruc?ons)

1. Heels%must%remain%on%the%floor.%
2. Squat%to%knee%angle%of%90°.%%
3. Provide%feedback.%
Instruc?ons)
1. Each%lunge%must%be%conHnuous%moHon.%
2. Lunge%back%to%front%knee%angle%of%90°.%%
3. Alternate%legs.%Provide%feedback.%
Instruc?ons)
1. Hands%on%head,%slight%bend%in%knees.%
2. Hinge%to%a%hip%angle%of%90°.%%
3. Provide%feedback.%
Instruc?ons)
1. Hands%and%feet%shoulder%width.%
2. Touch%chest%to%floor,%extend%arms.%
3. Provide%feedback.%
Instruc?ons)
1. Hands%and%feet%shoulder%width,%knees%90°.%%
2. Touch%chest%to%bar,%extend%arms.%
3. Provide%feedback.%

PERFORMANCE)REDEFINED.)

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APPENDIX(C( PHYSICAL)LITERACY)SCREEN)
((
SCREENING(AND(ASSESSMENT( –)RECORDING)FORM)–) ((
PERFORMANCE(REDEFINED.(
(((
) ) (
) ) (

!
!

! !

Use)the)screening)protocol)to) ) ) )
) REPETITIONS)) ) WORK)) ) TEMPO)
assess)control)of)general) (Assess%capacity%to%perform%reps%0%STRENGTH)% (Assess%capacity%to%perform%for%time%0%ENDURANCE)) (Assess%capacity%to%perform%at%tempo%0%SPEED))
) ) )
patterns)with)elevated)demands)
) ) )
SQUAT) LUNGE) HINGE) PUSH) PULL) SQUAT) LUNGE) HINGE) PUSH) PULL) SQUAT) LUNGE) HINGE) PUSH) PULL)
) ) )
SCREENING)CRITERIA) ) 1)Leg) Front) 1)Leg) 1)Arm) 1)Arm) ) Jump) Lateral)) Hip)) Hand) PullPup) ) Air) Back)) Good) BW) Inverted)
(Fitness%and%Movement)% Squat) Lunge) RDL) Plank) Row) ) Squat) Lunge) Bridge) Stand) Hang) ) Squat) Lunge) Morning) PushPup) Row)
)
) ) )

FITNESS)STANDARDS) ) 15)REPS)/)SIDE) ) 30)SECONDS)CONTINUOUS) ) 10)REPS)/)15)SECONDS)

) ) )

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
FITNESS)

) ) )
Fitness)Score)
(E.g.%15%reps%per%side)) ) ) )

) ) )

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
)

) ) )

MOVEMENT)STANDARDS) ) 7)KEY)FEATURES) )
7)KEY)FEATURES) )
7)KEY)FEATURES)
) ) )

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
CONTROL)

) ) )
Knee)Control)
(Aligned%with%hips%and%feet)) ) ) )

) ) )

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
CONTROL)

) ) )
Back)Control)
(Normal%low%back%curve)) ) ) )

) ) )

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
CONTROL)

) ) )
Shoulder)Control)
(Down%and%back)) ) ) )

) ) )

!
) ) )
ASSESSMENT)SCORE) )
FITNESS)SCORE) )
PATTERN)SCORE) )
KEY)FEATURE)SCORE)
(Total)number)of)challenges) )
(Number)of)times)the)fitness%and) )
(Number)of)times)the)fitness%and)movement)standards)were) )
(Number)of)times)movement)standards)
completed)) movement)standards)were)met)) met)for)each)of)the)5)patterns)) were)met)for)each)key)feature))
FITNESS)ONLY) COMBINED)) ) REPS) WORK) TEMPO) ) SQUAT) LUNGE) HINGE) PUSH) PULL) ) KNEE) BACK) SHOULDER)
) ) )
(/15)) (/15)) (/5)) (/5)) (/5)) (/3)) (/3)) (/3)) (/3)) (/3)) (/9)) (/15)) (/6))
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

) ) )
) ) ) )
)
) ) )

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SAMPLE

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Categorizing “Performers”
Mobility Screen Physical Literacy Screen
ACTIVE ROM ACTIVE ROM KEY FEATURES KEY FEATURES
CRITERIA ADEQUATE INADEQUATE CRITERIA ADEQUATE INADEQUATE
(✓) (𝘹) (✓) (𝘹)

“A” “B” “A” “B”

PASSIVE ROM FITNESS
ADEQUATE ADEQUATE
(✓) (✓)

N/A “C” N/A “C”

PASSIVE ROM FITNESS
INADEQUATE INADEQUATE
(𝘹) (𝘹)

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