STUDENT OUTLINE

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UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

FORCE FITNESS READINESS CENTER

THE BASIC SCHOOL

24191 GILBERT ROAD

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA 22134

STUDENT OUTLINE

BIOMECHANICS AND KINESIOLOGY I

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FORCE FITNESS INSTRUCTOR COURSE

M02MN1T

APPROVED BY: LtCol (Ret) Shusko, J. C. DATE: 20190328 INT:______

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

a. TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

(1) Given a unit to train, supervise injury prevention,

and to increase a Marine and units readiness. (0919-TRNG-2004)

b. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES

(1) Without the aid of reference, identify bone tissue

behavior under stress without error. (0919-TRNG-2004v)

(2) Without the aid of reference, identify joint

structures without error. (0919-TRNG-2004w)

(3) Without the aid of reference, identify factors of

cartilage wear and degeneration without error. (0919-TRNG-2004x)

(4) Without the aid of reference, describe elastic vs

plastic regions of ligament/tendon behavior without error.

(0919-TRNG-2004y)

(5) Without the aid of reference, identify the types of

muscle contraction without error. (0919-TRNG-2004aa)

(6) Without the aid of reference, identify the roles of

muscle during contraction without error. (0919-TRNG-2004ab)

(7) Without the aid of reference, identify muscle and

force relationships without error. (0919-TRNG-2004ac)

(8) Without the aid of reference, identify muscle

effects without error. (0919-TRNG-2004ad)

INTRODUCTION: It is imperative that Force Fitness Instructors

understand the principles of anatomy, physiology, and mechanics

as it relates to human movement. The Instructor’s level of

understanding of the biomechanics of the human body is important

for the teaching, supervising, and revising of individual

Marines and unit physical fitness plans.

1. FUNCTIONS OF HUMAN TISSUE.

a. Bone. Bones provide structure to the body and serve as

attachment points for muscles.

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(1) Composition and Structure. Bones are uniquely

designed and may harden with training and exercise.

(a) Storage: Bone serves as reservoir for essential

minerals in the body, especially calcium.

(b) Growth: Bones will grow longitudinally as long

as end plates are open. End plates may close at age 18.

(c) Bones are able to accommodate limited

deformation dependent on direction and magnitude of stresses.

(d) 25% weight of bone is water

(2) Loading & Stress Behavior. Stress can occur in a

variety of ways: tension, compression, sheer, bending, and

torsion. Below is a graph depicting the “Load – Deformation

curve.” The bone is more resilient when force is applied in the

longitudinal position and it’s resistance to stress decreases as

the stress approaches the transverse plane.

(3) Degenerative Changes in Bone Associated with Aging.

Progressive loss of bone is normal with aging.

(a) Age, gender, and body mass. All three of these

are factors in bone density.

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(4) Muscle Activity on Stress Distribution on Bone.

Contraction of the muscle alters the stress distributed in the

bone. The muscle contraction decreases or eliminates stress

partially or totally.

(5) Fatigue of Bone under Repetitive Loading. Bone can

fracture by a single load that surpasses its ultimate strength

or by repeated load application of a load of lower magnitude.

As muscles fatigue, they are no longer able to absorb energy.

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b. Joints.

(1) Structure. Joints may be classified by structure or

function. For the purposes of this class, we will focus on the

structure of joints.

(a) Fibrous: There is no cavity, or space, present

between the bones, so most fibrous joints do not move at all.

Example: sutures in head (synarthridal).

(b) Cartilaginous: Cartilaginous joints are those

in which the bones are connected by cartilage. Example:

coracoclavicular joint, pubic symphysis, or costochondral joint

of ribs (amphiarthridal).

(c) Synovial: Synovial joints are the only joints

that have a space between the adjoining bones. This space,

referred to as the synovial (or joint) cavity, is filled with

synovial fluid. Example: knee joint, hip joint, or shoulder

joint (diarthridal).

(2) Loading & Stress Behavior. Joints can roll, spin,

and glide. In a synovial joint, there is a combination of all

three.

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c. Cartilage. Cartilage is formed at the end of bone where

two ends are in contact. They distribute the load over a wide

area, which decrease the stress in the joint. It also allows

for movements with minimal friction and wear. Some cartilage in

the body increases stability by deepening the joint.

(1) Structure. Cartilage is made of chondrocytes and

has 4 zones. Overall, cartilage is an isolated tissue without

nerve, blood supply, and lymphatic channels. Therefore, this

tissue does not heal or repair well.

80% of cartilage is water

(2) Lubrication of Cartilage. Lubrication is needed to

reduce friction of the joint and creates a thin barrier between

bones. Nutrients are delivered to the cartilage by the

lubrication to the cartilage surface.

(3) Wear and Degeneration. Wear and degeneration may

naturally occur over time but can be accelerated due to poor

mechanics, form, or excessive exercise.

(a) Load: Cartilage is minimally affected with axial

load/ tension. However, sheer is not tolerated well.

(b) Stress: Like bone, repetitive stress can lead to

fatigue wear of the cartilage even when lubrication is present.

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(c) Osteoarthritis (OA): Osteoarthritis of the joint

may result from cartilage wear and degeneration. The ends of

bone lose their smooth contacts and become rough and inflamed.

d. Tendons & Ligaments. Tendons, ligaments, and joint

capsules surround, connect, and stabilize the joint. Ligaments

and joint capsules connect bone to bone. The function of the

tendon is to connect muscle to bone for transmission of force.

(1) Composition and structure. Tendons and ligaments

are made of connective tissue.

(a) Vascular properties: Ligament and tendons have

limited vascular properties which affects the healing process.

They receive blood through peripherally.

(b) Order: Fibers are aligned in parallel which

give them strength under tensile loads. Ligaments generally

sustain loads in one predominate direction.

(c) Stability: Specialized receptors are located in

tendons and ligaments which help with stability and

proprioception.

(2) Elastic vs Plastic Region. Upon stretching the

ligament or tendon they are able to resist load under tension.

At some point there is a “plastic region”, where the tissue no

longer is able to return to it’s normal length. Past that,

there is a point of failure where the tissue ruptures.

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(3) Factors that Affect Biomechanical Properties of

Tendons and Ligaments. Tendon and ligament properties can

change due to a number of variables.

(a) Maturation and Aging: As we age ligaments and

tendons decrease their elastic properties.

(b) Mobilization and immobilization: Physical

training has shown to increase strength and stiffness of

ligaments and tendons. Immobilization has shown to decrease

tensile strength in tendon and ligaments. Immobilization may

have impact for several months to years on ligaments and

tendons.

(c) Steroids: When corticosteroids are applied

after an acute ligament injury; ligament stiffness decreases,

energy absorption decreases, and the failure point decreases.

(d) Grafts: When a graft is used to repair or

replace a ligament, it will take about 1 year for the healing

process to complete. In theory, the graft should be stronger

than the other side. Due to compliance or early return to

training, the graft may actually have more laxity.

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e. Nerve Roots and Nerves.

(1) Composition and structure: Nerves stem from the

spinal cord and branch out to the rest of the body, similar to

roots of a tree. There is an upper plexus and lower lumbar

plexus in the body. Nerves follow a certain pattern and

innervate certain muscles.

(2) Biomechanical Behavior of Peripheral Nerves: Nerves

are strong with a considerable tension strength. Stretching

injuries of a nerve typically occur with high energy impacts

such as a motor vehicle accident. The damaged nerve can lead to

decreased sensitivity and decreased motor strength. In extreme

cases damaged nerves can cause atrophy and palsy symptoms.

2. FUNCTIONS OF HUMAN MUSCLE.

a. Composition and Structure. Muscles fibers have 4

characteristics: excitability, contractility, extensibility, and

elasticity. Muscle tissue has the capacity to respond to a

stimulus (excitable). Muscle tissue has the ability to shorten

and generate pulling force (contractible). Muscle tissue can be

stretched back to its original length (extensible). Muscle

tissue has the ability to recoil to original resting length

(elastic).

b. Types of Contraction.

(1) Isometric: Isometric contractions occur when there

is no change in the length of the contracting muscle. This

occurs when carrying an object in front of you as the weight of

the object is pulling your arms down but your muscles are

contracting to hold the object at the same level.

(2) Concentric: Concentric contractions are those which

cause the muscle to shorten as it contracts. An example is

bending the elbow from straight to fully flexed, causing a

concentric contraction of the biceps brachii muscle. Concentric

contractions are the most common type of muscle contraction and

occur frequently in daily and sporting activities.

(3) Eccentric: Eccentric contractions are the opposite

of concentric and occur when the muscle lengthens as it

contracts. This is less common and usually involves the control

or deceleration of a movement being initiated by the eccentric

muscle’s agonist.

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c. Roles of Muscle.

(1) Agonist: The agonist in a movement is the muscle(s)

that provides the major force to complete the movement. Because

of this agonists are known as the ‘prime movers’. In the bicep

curl which produces flexion at the elbow, the biceps muscle is

the agonist. The agonist is not always the muscle that is

shortening (contracting concentrically). In a bicep curl the

bicep is the agonist on the way up when it contracts

concentrically, and on the way down when it contracts

eccentrically. This is because it is the prime mover in both

cases.

(2) Antagonist: The antagonist in a movement refers to

the muscles that oppose the agonist. During elbow flexion where

the bicep is the agonist, the triceps muscle is the antagonist.

While the agonist contracts causing the movement to occur, the

antagonist typically relaxes so as not to impede the agonist.

The antagonist doesn’t always relax though, another function of

antagonist muscles can be to slow down or stop a movement. We

would see this if the weight involved in the bicep curl was very

heavy, when the weight was being lowered from the top position

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the antagonist triceps muscle would produce a sufficient amount

of tension to help control the movement as the weight lowers.

(3) Stabilizers: The synergist in a movement is the

muscle(s) that stabilizes a joint around which movement is

occurring, which in turn helps the agonist function effectively.

Synergist muscles also help to create the movement. In the

bicep curl the synergist muscles are the brachioradialis and

brachialis which assist the biceps to create the movement and

stabilize the elbow joint.

d. Muscle and Force Relationships.

(1) Length-force relationship: This relationship is

between a muscle's length and the isometric tension (force)

which it generates when fully activated.

(2) Force-velocity relationship: Being hyperbolic means

that the rate of change of force alters with changing velocity.

At low velocities, the rate of change of force is very high and

it drops off quickly with small increments in speed. At higher

velocities, the rate of change of force is quite low and alters

little with each incremental change in speed. The hyperbolic

force velocity relationship describes the relationship between

muscle force production and contractile velocity in single

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muscles while shortening. Therefore it does not necessarily

explain the relationship between joint moments and joint angular

velocity, nor does it explain the relationship between muscle

force production and contractile velocity in single muscles

while lengthening.

(3) Force-Time relationship: The force generated by a

muscle is proportional to the contraction time: the longer the

contraction time, the greater the force developed.

e. Muscle Effects.

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(1) Effect of pre-stretching: Muscle performs more work

when it shortens immediately after being stretched in the

concentrically contracted that than when it shortens from a

state of isometric contraction. Phenomenon is not only

accounted by elastic properties.

(2) Effect of temperature: Increases conduction velocity

and increases the frequency of stimulation in the neurological

system; therefore, increasing force production. Increases

greater enzyme activity of metabolism. Muscle fiber temperature

increases by blood flow (warm up) and production of heat from

metabolism. (contraction fiction)

(3) Effect of fatigue: If a muscle has adequate oxygen

supply and nutrients that can be broken down to ATP, it can

sustain itself. The frequency must be low enough where ATP can

synthesize at a rate to keep up with ATP breakdown during

contraction.

(a) If the frequency of stimulation increases and

outpaces the rate of replacement; muscle responses grow

progressively weaker.

(b) Fatigue is first observed by a lack of

coordination of movement and its effect in the increase loads of

the tissue.

(c) Skills of the individual decrease.

(d) Decrease in accuracy control and speed of

contraction, which may predispose an individual to injury.

f. Muscle Remodeling. Muscle, like other tissue has the

ability to remodel and change.

(1) Disuse and immobilization. If the muscle is not

used, there will be a negativ effect on the muscle tissue.

(a) Loss of muscle endurance and strength

(b) Atrophy: decrease in muscle size and number of

fibers

(c) Biomechanical changes in anaerobic and aerobic

capacity

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(b) Effects of physical training. If the muscle is

used and exercised, there will a positive effect to the muscle.

1. Increases the cross sectional area of all

muscle fibers.

2. Some evidence that fiber types may adapt

depending on training.

3. Stretching increases the muscle flexibility,

increases elasticity, and the length of the muscle-tendon unit.

SUMMARY: When force and resistance are acting on the body,

there are accommodations and changes that occur across human

tissue. Tendons and ligaments increase stability of a joint and

help transmit force to the limb. They also have limits before

tearing. There is a variety of resistance training techniques,

the muscle fiber is able to accommodate depending on the

stimulus.

REFERENCES:

Floyd, RT. (2015) Manual of Structural Kinesiology 19

th

Ed. New

York, NY: McGraw-Hill Company.

Haff GG, Triplett NT. (2016) Essentials of Strength Training and

Conditioning 4

th

Ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Nordin M, Frankel. (2001) Basic Biomechanics of the

Musculoskeletal System 3

rd

Ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams

& Wilkins.

Seeley R, VanPutte C, Regan J, Russo A. (2011) Seeley’s Anatomy

& Physiology 9

th

Ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Company.