Download Copy of Movement Patterns

BTEC National Diploma in Sport
(Sport and Exercise Science)
Biomechanics
Movement Patterns
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you should be
able to:

Define and demonstrate the different
movement patterns allowed at each joint
Overview
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Muscles are attached to bones via tendons.
When these muscles contract, bones move.
This movement will occur about a fixed point – a
joint.
It is the muscle that causes movement – the
bones are the things that move and the joints
allow this movement to take place.
All movements can be described by the action
that occurs at a joint.
Anatomical Position
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All movements are
described in relation
to the anatomical
position
Flexion
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Decrease in the angle
around a joint
e.g. bending the arm
at the elbow to touch
the shoulder with the
arm
e.g. bringing the leg
forward
Extension
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Increase in the angle
around a joint
e.g. straightening the
leg at hip
Hyperextension
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Occurs when the
angle between the
articulating bones
goes beyond 180o
e.g. hyperextension
of the hip takes the
femur back behind
the body
Abduction
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Movement of a body
part away from the
midline of the body
e.g. taking the arm
out to the side of the
body
Adduction
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Opposite of abduction
Bringing a body part in towards the mid
line of the body
e.g. bringing the arm back to the
anatomical position
Circumduction
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Combination of flexion, extension,
abduction and adduction
Drawing the shape of a circle with the end
of the bone
e.g. drawing a circle with the arm is
circumduction of the shoulder joint
Rotation
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A bone turns about its longitudinal axis within a
joint
Can be either internal (medial) rotation or
external (lateral) rotation
Internal rotation is towards the body
External rotation is away from the body
e.g. with the elbow tucked into the side, internal
rotation of the shoulder brings the palm of the
hand towards the body
Rotation
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Medial rotation
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Lateral rotation
Plantar Flexion
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Pointing the toes
forward
Dorsi Flexion
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Pulling the toes up
towards the shin bone
(tibia)
Inversion
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Turning the sole of
the foot towards the
midline of the body
Eversion
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Turning the sole of
the foot outwards
away from the midline
of the body
Pronation
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Occurs at the radioulnar joint in the
elbow
Internal rotation
causes the palm to
turn downwards
Supination
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Opposite of pronation
Turning the palm of
the hand to face
upwards
Elevation
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Occurs at the
shoulder girdle
Shrugging the
shoulders upwards
Depression
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At the shoulder girdle
Movement of the
shoulders downwards
Protraction
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Movement of a bone
forwards
e.g. jutting the chin
forwards
e.g. movement of the
shoulder girdle
forwards
Retraction
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Opposite of protraction
Moving a bone (bones)
backward
e.g. pulling the chin
backwards
e.g. squeezing the
shoulder blades together
(moving the shoulder
girdle backwards)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you should be
able to:

Define and demonstrate the different
movement patterns allowed at each joint