1. Kinematic Concepts for Analyzing Human Motion
Chapter 2
Kinematic Concepts for Analyzing Human Motion
© 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Forms of motion:
Linear motion: motion along a line
Rectilinear motion: (along a straight line)
Curvilinear motion: (along a curved line)

3. Angular motion: rotation around an axis
Forms of motion:
Angular motion: rotation around an axis

4. Forms of motion:
Angular motion
Curvilinear motion
Rectilinear motion

5. Forms of motion:
General motion: a combination of linear and angular motion (includes most human motion)

6. What is a mechanical system?
a body or portion of a body that is
deliberately chosen by the analyst
examples: throwing arm, kicking leg, the trunk during performance of a lift, the entire body during performance of a maximal vertical jump
Referring to Baseball Overhand Thrown:
In many circumstance, the whole body can be choosen as the system to be analyzed. However, in some other circumstances, the arm or the ball being projected by the right arm could be considered as a system to be analyzed. The arm could represent angular motion, where, the ball could represent linear motion.

7. What is anatomical reference position?
erect standing
position with all
body parts facing
forward
considered the
starting point for all
body segment
movements

8. Directional terms: superficial: toward the surface of the body
deep: inside the body away from the surface
superior: closer to the head
inferior: farther away from the head
medial: toward the midline of the body
lateral: away from the midline of the body
anterior: toward the front of the body
posterior: toward the back of the body
distal: away from the trunk
proximal: closer to the trunk

9. Directional terms superficial: toward the surface of the body
deep: inside the body away from the surface
Your ribcage is superficial to your heart, but deep to your pectoral muscles.

10. Directional terms The nose is superior to the mouth.
The umbilicus is inferior to the sternum
Naval (clinically known as umbilicus)

11. Directional terms Medial: toward the midline of the body
The chest is medial to the arm.
Lateral: away from the midline of the body
The ears are lateral to the nose

12. Directional terms anterior: toward the front of the body
posterior: toward the back of the body
The heart is posterior to the sternum

13. “The wrist is proximal to the hand”
Directional terms
“The wrist is proximal to the hand”
Proximal and distal don't compare the wrist to the hand,
compare the [wrist to the torso] vs [the hand to torso].
The wrist is in closer proximity to where the limb attaches to the torso
than the wrist is.
Torso
Wrist
Hand

14. Reference planes:
sagittal plane - in which forward and backward movements occur
frontal plane - in which lateral movements occur
transverse plane - in which rotational movements occur

15. Reference axes:
Longitudinal axis - directed vertically and around which rotational movements occur
Anteroposterior axis – directed along the sagittal plane and around which rotations in the frontal plane occur
Mediolateral axis – directed along the frontal plane and around which rotations in the sagittal plane occur

16. What movements occur in the sagittal plane?
Flexion
Extension
Hyperextension
Dorsiflexion
Plantar flexion

17. What movements occur in the sagittal plane?
Elbow
Hip
Shoulder
Knee
Head

18. What movements occur in the frontal plane?
Lateral flexion
Radial deviation
Ulnar deviation
Abduction
Adduction
Elevation
Depression
Eversion
Inversion

19. What movements occur in the transverse plane?
Horizontal adduction
Horizontal abduction
Medial rotation
Lateral rotation
Pronation
Supination

20. Spatial Reference Systems
useful for standardizing descriptions
of human motion
most commonly used is the Cartesian
coordinate system
human body joint centers are labeled
with numerical x and y coordinates

21. Spatial Reference Systems
(0,0) X Y
(x,y) = (3,7)
Cartesian coordinates of the hip

22. Spatial Reference Systemsx y
(0,0)
x = +
y = +
x = -
y = -
Coordinates can be both positive and negative.

23. Qualitative Analysis: Prerequisite Knowledge
What is the purpose of the skill?
What are the causes of performance errors?
How can knowledge be gained?
experience in performing the skill
reading available literature
attending conferences and workshops

24. Qualitative Analysis:
Planning
What is the question to be answered?
From what perspectives (angle and viewing distance) should the movement be viewed?
How many observations should be taken?

25. Qualitative Analysis:
Planning
What plans should be made for:
performer attire
lighting conditions
background
use of video

26. Qualitative Analysis: Conducting the Analysis
Identify
Question/Problem
Viewing Angle
Viewing Distance
Performer Attire
Environmental
Modifications
Refine Question
Make Decisions
End Analysis
Use of Video
Communicate
with Performer
Collect
Observations
Visual
Auditory
From Performer
Interpret Observations
From Other Analysts