Chapter 1

Mechanical Principles: Kinematics

Related terms of Kinesiology

Biomechanics Statics Dynamics

Studying Kinesiology
The

purpose of studying clinical kinesiology is to understand the forces acting on the human body and to manipulate these forces in treatment procedures so that human performance may be improved and further injury may be prevented.

Studying Kinesiology (Cont.)

The

forces affecting motion (gravity, muscle tension, external resistance, and friction) are never seen and seldom felt. Kinematics is the science of the motion of bodies in space. Osteokinematics is concerned with movements of bones Arthrokinematics addresses the movements occurring between joint surfaces.

Planar classification of position and motion (osteokinematics)

Figure 1-2

Planar classification of position and motion (osteokinematics)

Frontal

plane abduction and adduction Sagittal plane flexion and extension Horizontal plane internal/external rotation pronation/supination Special cases radial/ulnar deviation dorsi-/plantar flexion. Goniometry (Gr. gonia, angle, and metron, measure)

Application of Goniometer

Summary Range of Joint Motion

Summary Range of Joint Motion (Cont.)

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

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

Kinematic chain
A combination of several

joints uniting successive segments constitutes a kinematic chain Distal segments can have higher degrees of freedom than do proximal ones

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

Joints have 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

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

Open-packed Position
In all

other position, the ovoid joint surfaces do not fit perfectly but are incongruent and called openpacked, or loose-packed

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

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

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.