LESSON 8 : BIOMECHANICS AND SPORTS

2. LEARNING OUTCOME

3. SYNOPSIS

4. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

1
LEARNING OUTCOME
8.1 Meaning and Importance of Biomechanics in Sports
8.2 Types of movements (Flexion, Extension, Abduction & Adduction)
8.3 Newton’s Law of Motion & its application in sports

8.1 MEANING & IMPORTANCE OF BIOMECHANICS IN SPORTS

8.1.1 Meaning of Biomechanics
The study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of
living organisms is called as Biomechanics.
8.1.2 Importance of Biomechanics
Biomechanics in sport incorporates a detailed analysis of sport movements
in order to minimise the risk of injury and improve sports performance. Sport
and exercise biomechanics encompasses the area of science concerned with
the analysis of the mechanics of human movement . It refers to the description,
detailed analysis and assessment of human movement during sport activities.
Mechanics is a branch of physics that is concerned with the description of
motion/movement and how forces create motion/movement. In other words,
sport biomechanics is the science of explaining how and why the human
body moves in the way that it does. In sport and exercise, that definition
is often extended to also consider the interaction between the performer
and their equipment and environment. Biomechanics is traditionally divided
into the areas of kinematics which is a branch of mechanics that deals with
the geometry of the motion of objects, including displacement, velocity, and
acceleration, without taking into account the forces that produce the motion
while kinetics is the study of the relationships between the force system acting
on a body and the changes it produces in body motion. In terms of this,
there are skeletal, muscular and neurological considerations we also need to
consider when describing biomechanics.
8.1.3 Application of Biomechanics In Sports
According to Knudson human movement performance can be enhanced in many
ways as effective movement encompasses anatomical factors, neuromuscular
skills, physiological capacities and psychological/cognitive abilities.
Biomechanics is essentially the science of movement technique and as such
tends to be most utilised in sports where technique is a dominant factor rather
than physical structure or physiological capacities . The following are some of
the areas where biomechanics is applied, to either support the performance
of athletes or solve issues in sports.

2
8.2 TYPES OF MOVEMENTS

Different Types of Movements Are As Follows : -

1. Gliding Movements
2. Angular Movement
3. Circumduction Rotation
4. Other Movements

1. Gliding Movement: Gliding movement is the simplest kind of motion that can
take place in a joint, one surface gliding or moving over another without any
angular or rotatory movement. Though it is very common to all movable joints,
but in most of the articulations of the carpus and tarsus, it is the only motion
permitted.
2. Angular Movement: Angular movement occurs only between the long bones By
angular movement, the angle between the two bones is increased or decreased.
It may take place forward, backward, flexion, extension, adduction and
abduction.
Adduction and abduction combined with flexion and extension are met within
the more movable joints as in the hip and the shoulder. The various movements
which fall under angular movement are described below.
(a) Flexion. Bending parts at a joint so that the angle between them decreases
and parts come closer together (bending the lower limb at the knee).
(b) Extension. Straightening parts at a joint so that the angle between them
increases and the parts move farther apart (straightening the lower limb at
the knee).
c) Abduction. Moving a part away from the midline (lifting the upper limb
horizontally to form a right angle with the side of the body).
(d) Adduction. Moving a part toward the midline (returning the upper limb
from the horizontal position to the side of the body).
3. Circumduction : Circumduction is that movement which takes place between
the head of a bone and its articular cavity. This kind of motion is best seen in
the shoulder and hip joints. In fact, it is a compound circular movement which
involves flexion, extension, adduction and abduction. In circumduction, a part
moves in such a way that its end follows a circular path (moving a finger in a
circular motion without moving the hand.)
4. Rotation : Rotation is a form of movement in which a bone moves around
a central axis without undergoing any displacement from this axis. Moving a
part around an axis is called rotation e.g., twisting the head from side to side.
5. Other Movements : (a) Hyperextension. Excess extension of the parts at a
joint, beyond the anatomical position (bending the head back beyond the
upright position).
(b) Dorsiflexion. Bending the foot at the ankle toward the chin (bending the
foot upward).

3
 1. Plantar flexion. Bending the foot at the ankle toward the sole (bending the foot
downward).
2. Inversion. Turning the foot so the sole faces medially.
3. Protraction. Moving a part forward (thrusting the chin forward).
4. Retraction. Moving a part backward (pulling the chin backward).
5. Elevation. Raising a part (shrugging the shoulders).
6. Depression. Lowering a part (drooping the shoulders).
7. Supination. Turning the hand so the palm is upward or facing anteriorly (in
anatomical position).
8. Pronation. Turning the hand so the palm is downward or facing posteriorly(in
anatomical position).
9. Eversion. Turning the foot so the sole faces laterally.

8.3 NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION & ITS APPLICATION IN SPORTS

The three laws of motion were formulated by Newton. These are described below.
1. Law of Inertia : It is the first law of motion. According to this law, “A body at rest
will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion at the same speed
and in the same direction unless acted on by an external force.”
There are a great number of examples of this law in the field of sports and
games, such as starting in rowing, starting on Roman rings, starting in sprinting,
starting in throwing the hammer, raising an opponent in wrestling, etc. Basically
if an object is in motion, it remains in motion unless something or some external
force stops it. The external force may be gravitational force, the surface of the
playing field, a defensive player or the braking action of the sports-person’s
body to stop.

2. Law of Acceleration : It is the second law of motion. According to this law, “A

change in the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force
producing it and inversely proportional to its mass.” If two unequal forces are
applied to objects of equal mass, the object that has greater force applied will
move faster. Conversely, if two equal forces are applied to objects of different
masses, the lighter mass will travel at a faster speed. This law is also applied in
various sports, for example, in hammer throw, the thrower, who is stronger (who
has more force), will throw the 12 lbs hammer farther than a thrower who has less
force or strength. A hammer thrower will find that more force is required to throw
16 lbs hammer than a 12 lbs hammer. If a baseball player hits a ball with the
double force, the rate at which the ball will accelerate will be doubled. Football
players can slow down, stop or reverse the direction of other players depending
upon how much force they can apply and in which direction.
3.

4
3. Law of Reaction : It is the third law of motion. According to this law, ‘For every
action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.’ There are also many
examples in sports where this law is applied, e.g., springing on diving board
for gaining maximum height, bouncing on trampoline, thrust against the water in
swimming.

4. The application of this law in various sports is given below.

a. Swimming: A swimmer pushes the water backwards (action). The water pushes
the swimmer forward (reaction) with the same force.
b. Walking: When a person walks, he/she presses the ground in the backward
direction (action) by his/her feet. The ground pushes him/her in the forward
direction with an equal force (reaction).
c. Shooting: In shooting, when a gun or pistol is fired, the bullet moves forward
(action).
The gun or pistol jerks backward (reaction).
d. Dribbling in Basketball: When a basketball player dribbles, he/she exerts
force on the ball and the ball strikes on the floor with a force (action). Then,
the ball comes up with an equal force from the floor (reaction).
e. High Jump: A high jumper can jump higher off a solid surface because it
opposes his/her body with as much force as he/she is able to generate, in
contrast to sand or any other unstable surface.

5
 VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPES QUESTIONS

1. Name the type of movement in which the angle at a joint decreases and the parts
come closer together.
Ans. Flexion

2. Name the type of movement in which the angle at a joint increases and the parts
move farther apart.
Ans. Extension

3. Who formulated the laws of motion ?

Ans. Sir Isac Newton formulated the laws of motion.

4. Which law of motion is applied when a basketball player dribbles the ball on the
court ?
Ans. Newton's Third Law of Motion is applied when a basketball players dribbles
basketball on the ground.

5. Which law of motion is applied during the take off in high jump ?
Ans. Newton's Second law of motion is applied during the take off in high jump. Here the
weight of the person jumping acts as a the mass of the object & the gravitational
force acts as an external force working in proportion with the mass of the object.

6
 SHORT ANSWER TYPES QUESTIONS

1. Explain the law of Inertia.

Ans. Law of Inertia: It is the first law of motion. According to this law, “A body at
rest will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion at the same speed
and in the same direction unless acted on by an external force.”
There are a great number of examples of this law in the field of sports and games,
such as starting in rowing, starting on Roman rings, starting in sprinting, starting in
throwing the hammer, raising an opponent in wrestling, etc. Basically if an object
is in motion, it remains in motion unless something or some external force stops
it.The external force may be gravitational force, the surface of the playing field, a
defensive player or the braking action of the sports-person’s body to stop.

2. Explain the law of Acceleration.

Ans. Law of Acceleration: It is the second law of motion. According to this law, “A change
in the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force producing it and
Inversely proportional to its mass.” If two unequal forces are applied to objects of
equal mass, the object that has greater force applied will move faster.

3. Explain the law of Inertia.

Ans. 1.Law of Inertia : It is the first law of motion. According to this law, “A body at rest
will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion at the same speed
and in the-same direction unless acted on by an external force.”

There are a great number of examples of this law in the field of sports and games,
such as starting in rowing, starting on Roman rings, starting in sprinting, starting in
throwing the hammer, raising an opponent in wrestling, etc. Basically if an object
is in motion, it remains in motion unless something or some external force stops it.
The external force may be gravitational force, the surface of the playing field, a
defensive player or the braking action of the sports-person’s body to stop.

4. Differentiate between Flexion and Extension.

Ans. Flexion : - Bending parts at a joint so that the angle between them decreases and
parts come closer together (bending the lower limb at the knee).
Extension : - Straightening parts at a joint so that the angle between them increases
and the parts move farther apart (straightening the lower limb at the knee).

5. Differentiate between adduction & abduction.

Ans. Adduction :- Moving a part toward the midline (returning the upper limb from the
horizontal position to the side of the body).
Abduction : - Moving a part away from the midline (lifting the upper limb
horizontally to form a right angle with the side of the body).

7
 LONG ANSWER TYPES QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the various type of movements in detail.

Ans. Different Types of Movements Are As Follows : -
1. Gliding Movements
2. Angular Movement
3. Circumduction Rotation
4. Other Movements
1. Gliding Movement: Gliding movement is the simplest kind of motion that can
take place in a joint, one surface gliding or moving over another without any
angular or rotatory movement. Though it is very common to all movable joints,
but in most of the articulations of the carpus and tarsus, it is the only motion
permitted.
2. Angular Movement: Angular movement occurs only between the long bones
By angular movement, the angle between the two bones is increased or
decreased. It may take place forward, backward, flexion, extension, adduction
and abduction.
Adduction and abduction combined with flexion and extension are met within
the more movable joints as in the hip and the shoulder. The various movements
which fall under angular movement are described below.
(a). Flexion. Bending parts at a joint so that the angle between them decreases
and parts come closer together (bending the lower limb at the knee).
(b) Extension. Straightening parts at a joint so that the angle between them
increases and the parts move farther apart (straightening the lower limb
at the knee).
c) Abduction. Moving a part away from the midline (lifting the upper limb
horizontally to form a right angle with the side of the body).
d) Adduction. Moving a part toward the midline (returning the upper limb
from the horizontal position to the side of the body).
3. Circumduction : Circumduction is that movement which takes place between
the head of a bone and its articular cavity. This kind of motion is best seen in
the shoulder and hip joints. In fact, it is a compound circular movement which
involves flexion, extension, adduction and abduction. In circumduction, a part
moves in such a way that its end follows a circular path (moving a finger in a
circular motion without moving the hand.)

8
4. Rotation : Rotation is a form of movement in which a bone moves around a
central axis without undergoing any displacement from this axis. Moving a
part around an axis is called rotation e.g., twisting the head from side to side.
5. Other Movements:
a. Hyperextension. Excess extension of the parts at a joint, beyond
the anatomical position (bending the head back beyond the upright
position).
b. Dorsiflexion. Bending the foot at the ankle toward the chin (bending the
foot upward).
c. Plantar flexion. Bending the foot at the ankle toward the sole (bending
the foot downward).
d. Inversion. Turning the foot so the sole faces medially.
e. Protraction. Moving a part forward (thrusting the chin forward).
f. Retraction. Moving a part backward (pulling the chin backward).
g. Elevation. Raising a part (shrugging the shoulders).
h. Depression. Lowering a part (drooping the shoulders).
i. Supination. Turning the hand so the palm is upward or facing anteriorly
(in anatomical position).
j. Pronation. Turning the hand so the palm is downward or facing posteriorly
(in anatomical position).
k. Eversion. Turning the foot so the sole faces laterally.