KINESIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS IN

SPORTS
Kinesiology is the study of movements, whether of the human body or
of non-human animals. The word is a combination of the Greek word
for ‘movement’ (kinesis) and ‘study’ (logos).

MEANING OF BIOMECHANICS

BIOMECHANICS IS STUDY OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM BY THE MEANS OF

THE METHODS OF MECHANICS

or
Biomechanics is the ‘analysis/ study of forces’ and the ‘application of the principles of physics and their
effect on the human body.

OR

THE STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT PATTERNS IS CALLED BIOMECHANICS

IMPORTANCE OF BIOMECHANICS IN SPORTS

• IMPROVEMENT IN SPORTS TECHNIQUES

• IMPROVEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

• MINIMISATION OF INJURY

• DEVELOPMENT OF NEW METHODS

• IMPROVEMENT OF TRAINING

• Analysing human motion

• Ensuring economy of movement

• Designing and teaching exercise and conditioning.

Kinetics and Kinematics in Sports

Kinematics is the mechanics of motion without reference to the forces

causing that motion – so only from a geometrical point of
view. Kinetics is that
aspect of dynamics that considers the force that causes objects or
bodies to move. Force may be a pull or a push.

TYPES OF MOVEMENT

• FLEXION

• EXTENSION (VIDEO)

• ABDUCTION

• ADDUCTION (VIDEO)
 • Rotation- It is the movement around the long axis.

• Circumduction- It combines flexion, extension, abduction and adduction. Usually this movement
occurs at ball and socket joints like shoulder joint, hip joint, etc.

• Supination & Pronation - When a person is laying face-down on a surface, it is pronation. When
a person is laying face-up on a surface, it is supination.
AXIS AND PLANES (NOT COMING IN EXAM)

Which of the following outlines the importance of biomechanics in sports?

(a) Improvement of training (b) Understanding of the human body (c) Development of new methods (d)
All of these

2. Biomechanics helps in which of the following?

(a) In improving technique (b) In improving designs of sports equipment (c) In improving performance
(d) All of these

3. Which one of the following is a correct term for flexion?

(a) Turning (b) Twisting (c) Bending (d) Straightening

4. A decrease in the angle between the femur and the tibia because of the movement of the knee is an
example of which type of movement?

(a) Flexion (b) Extension (c) Abduction (d) Adduction