Kinetic Chain

•Kinetic chain propose that a series of overlapping segments

are connected via a joint.
•
•Interlocking joints create a system that allows movement of
one joint to a ect the movement of another joint within the
kinetic link.
•
•Within the human body segments are linked via the articulation
of bones through ligaments, muscles to bones via tendons and
myofascials, and neural structures.

Upper and Lower Kinetic Chain

Lower kinetic chain:
•Pelvis
•Hip
•Knee
•Ankle
•Foot

Upper Kinetic Chain:

•Thorax
•Scapula
•Humerus
•Elbow
•Wrist
•Hand

Kinetic Chain
•Human movements involve the complex coordination of individual  movements about several
joints at the same time.
•

•E ective coordination of the kinetic chain allows actions to be  performed more accurately/
powerfully
•

Two categories of Kinetic chain:

•Open Kinetic Chain
•Closed Kinetic Chain
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 Open and Closed Kinetic Chains
Closed Kinetic Chain: neither end of the chain can move freely  e.g. Leg press
•Hip is xed to the upper body
•Feet are xed to the foot plate.

Open Kinetic Chain: one end of the chain is completely free to move  e.g. Tennis service
•Arm xed to the body  
•Hand is free to move.

Two types of kinetic chain actions:

•Push like
•Throw like

Push Pattern
•The cumulative forces (torques) generated about each joint result in a  higher overall force
•The simultaneous joint rotations often result in a straight line  movement of the end point of the
chain.

Strength:
•Push like actions result in highly accurate  movements.

Weaknesses:
•Relatively slow movement speed
•Speed of movement is limited by the  shortening speed of our muscles

Throw Pattern
•Di er to push like patterns in that the joints of the kinetic chain  extend sequentially, one after
another.

Strength:
•Produce higher velocity at the end of the chain
•

Weaknesses:
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 •Not as accurate: small alterations in the time of release/contact with the ball will  result in a
signi cant alteration in the direction

THROW PATTERN: MOMENTUM

Develop momentum in heavy segments and transfer to lighter segments!

Throw pattern: Torque

Torque = rotation due to an applied force

Torque: The rotary e ect of a force about an axis of rotation, measured as the product of force
and the perpendicular distance between the force’s line of action and the axis”
Hall (2007)

FISHING CAST:
-YOU IMPART ANGULAR MOMENTUM TO THE BASE OF THE ROD.
-WHEN YOU STOP THE ROTATION OF THE BASE OF THE ROD THE TOP CONTINUES  TO MOVE
AND A HIGHER VELOCITY IS GENERATED.

Moment of inertia
•Unevenly distributed masses do not have the same radius of gyration
•
•The greater the distance of mass from the axis of rotation the greater force required.
•
•Each segment of the body has its own radius of gyration

Kinetic Chain Throw Pattern- Biological Structures

However…
•Transferred momentum and smaller moment of inertia does not fully  explain the higher the high
speeds achieved
•

Football Kick:
We don’t stop the thigh swinging before the lower leg comes through,  as it would reduce the
velocity of the foot (although it does slow down.

Second explanation is that the “throw like” pattern makes best use of  the tissues that have the
fastest shortening speeds
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Elastic Potential Energy - Tendons

•When a tendon is stretched it stored elastic potential energy
•When the tendon is released, it recoils at a very high speed
•

Football Kick:
•During the kick we draw the leg backwards rapidly
•During the forward phase the large muscles around the hip accelerate the thigh.
•However the lower leg and foot have inertia (reluctance to change motion) and they
 continue to move backwards

•The patellar tendon stretches under the load. When the force of the tendon is high
 enough, the tendon will recoil at a very high speed.

•We simultaneously contract the muscles that extend the knee forcefully to provide
 extra force.
•Results in a very fast extension of the knee and a very high foot speed.

FISHING ROD:
•BASE ROTATED FORWARDS THE TOP OF THE ROD WILL LAG  BEHIND BECAUSE OF ITS INERTIA.
ROD MADE OF ELASTIC  MATERIAL THAT STORES ENERGY.
•
THROWING:
•TENDONS THAT CROSS THE WRIST AND FINGERS ARE LONG  AND CAPABLE OF STORING A
LARGE AMOUNT OF ENERGY. SO  THEY ARE GOOD AT RECOILING TO ALLOW THE PROPULSION
OF  OBJECTS.
•FLICK OF WRIST AND FINGERS AT THE END OF A THROW  CONTRIBUTE A LOT TO THE OVERALL
RELEASE SPEED.

Sporting Actions
Following sporting actions bene t from the Kinetic Chain:

•Tennis Shot
•Baseball batting
•Baseball throw
•Football Kick
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