Class Announcements and Reminders

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming tasks
 Midterm Exam due TODAY (March 11th) at 11:59pm
 Exam will close at 11:59pm. Start early!
 Quiz 5 due on Sunday (Mar 17) at 11:59pm
 Watch this week’s lecture!

 Video will be available on Canvas by this evening (Mar 11)

Classes
 Class on March 18th will be online (LIVE)
 The entire class will be live!
 Zoom link will be posted on Canvas
 Presenters will be announced at the end of today’s class (Mar 11)
Class Announcements and Reminders

REMINDERS

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• Please wait until 24 hrs have passed before sending a second
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The Biomechanics of the
Human Lower Extremity

DR. SHERNICE A. THOMAS, PH.D.

BIOMECHANICS
 Objectives

 Explain how anatomical structure affects movement capabilities

of lower-extremity articulations.
 Identify factors influencing the relative mobility and stability of
lower-extremity articulations.
 Explain the ways in which the lower extremity is adapted to its
weight-bearing function.
 Identify muscles that are active during specific lower-extremity
movements.
 Describe the biomechanical contributions to common injuries of
the lower extremity.
 Structure of the Hip

 A ball and socket joint where the head of the femur articulates with the
concave acetabulum
 Inherently more stable than the shoulder because of bone structure and
the number and strength of the ligaments crossing the joint.
 Pelvic girdle includes the two ilia and the sacrum

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Movements at the Hip

Pelvic tilt directions

• Posterior
• Anterior
• Lateral

Image from https://www.mbmyoskeletal.com/learning/pelvic-tilt/ Image from https://totalhealthchiropractic.com.au/

 Movements at the Hip

Femoral movements
• Flexion/Extension
• Abduction/Adduction
• Rotation

Common Injuries:
• Fractures
• Contusions
• Strains

Image from https://basicmedicalkey.com/lower-limb-2/

 Structure of the Knee

Two weight-bearing joints:

• Tibiofemoral joint
• Patellofemoral joint

Image from https://cpictures.homes/tibiofemoral-joint

 Tibiofemoral Joint

 Dual condyloid articulations

between the medial and
lateral condyles of the tibia
and the femur; composing the
main hinge joint of the knee

 Because the medial and

lateral condyles of the femur
differ slightly in size and
shape, the tibia rotates
laterally on the femur during
the last few degrees of
extension to produce
“locking” of the knee
 Close-packed position of full
extension

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Patellofemoral Joint

 Articulation between the patella

and the femur

 Several biomechanical functions:

 Improves the mechanical advantage
of the knee extensors by as much as
50%
 Centralizes the divergent tension
from the quadriceps muscles that is
transmitted to the patellar tendon.
 Decreases patellofemoral joint
contact stress
 Provides some protection for the
anterior aspect of the knee and helps
protect the quadriceps tendon from
friction against the adjacent bones.

Image from https://www.kcbj.com/patient-resources-patellofemoral-pain-syndrome/

 Menisci

 Cartilaginous discs located between the tibial and femoral condyles

 Distribute the load at the knee over a large surface area and help
absorb shock
 Joined to each other by the transverse ligament

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Ligaments of the Knee

Two major types:

 Collateral ligaments
 Cross the medial and lateral
aspects of the knee
 Prevent lateral motion at the
knee

 Cruciate ligaments
 Cross each other in connecting
the anterior and posterior
aspects of the knee
 Limit the forward and
backward sliding of the femur
on the tibial plateaus during
knee flexion and extension,
and knee hyperextension
Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)
 Movements at the Knee

 Flexion/Extension

 Popliteus: muscle known as

the “unlocker” of the knee
because its action is lateral
rotation of the femur with
respect to the tibia

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Common injuries of the Knee

Ligament injuries:
 ACL: common in sports that
involve pivoting and cutting (e.g.
basketball)
 ~70% ACL injuries are noncontact
 PCL: common in contact sports or
motor vehicle accidents
 MCL: result of blows to the lateral
side of the knee

Image from https://www.pthealth.ca/conditions/sprains/knee-ligament-injuries/

 Common injuries of the Knee

Meniscus Injuries
 Most common knee injury
 Often the result of stretching or
tearing of the medial collateral
ligament

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

 Painful lateral deviation in patellar
tracking
 Most common injury among
runners; more common in females
than males
 Causes are unknown, but research
shows a correlation between this
pain weakness of the vastus medialis
oblique

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Structure of the Ankle

Comprises 3 joints:

Distal tibiofibular
 A syndesmosis where dense, fibrous
tissue binds the distal tibia and fibula
together

Tibiotalar
 The convex surface of the superior talus
articulates with the concave surface of
the distal tibia
 Hinge joint where most motion at the ankle
occurs

Fibulotalar
 Hinged joint formed by the articulation
of the talus, tibia, and fibula
Image from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24909-ankle-joint
 Movements at the Ankle

 Flexion  Dorsiflexion
 Extension  Plantar flexion

Dorsiflexors Plantar Flexors

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Structure of the Foot

Comprises multiple joints:

 Subtalar
 Tarsometatarsal and Intermetatarsal
 Metatarsophalangeal and Interphalangeal

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Plantar Arches

The tarsal and metatarsal bones

of the foot form 3 arches:
 Medial
 Stretch from the calcaneus to the
metatarsals and tarsals from the
medial aspect of the foot
 Lateral
 Stretch from the calcaneus to the
metatarsals and tarsals from the
lateral aspect of the foot
 Transverse
 Formed by the bases of the
metatarsal bones

Image from https://stayactiveup.com/2020/04/14/plantar-faciitis/

 Plantar Fascia

 Thick, fibrous, interconnected

bands of connective tissue that
extend over the plantar surface of
the foot

 Assist with support of the

longitudinal arch

 During weight bearing, mechanical

energy is stored in the stretched
ligaments, tendons, and plantar
fascia of the foot. This energy is
released to assist with push-off of
the foot from the surface.

Image from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Movements at the Foot

 Toe Flexion and Extension

 Inversion and Eversion
 Pronation and Supination

Image from https://veritaspt.com/

Image from https://swolverine.com/ Image from https://www.joionline.net/

 Common Injuries of the Foot

 Ankle Sprains
 Overuse injuries: Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, stress
fractures
 Alignment anomalies: varus and valgus
 May be congenital or may arise from an imbalance in muscular strength

Images from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 Common Injuries of the Foot

 Varus and valgus conditions in

the tibia and the femur can alter
the kinematics and kinetics of
joint motion

 “Knock-knee”
= femoral varus + tibial valgus
 Places added tension on the medial
aspect of the knee

 “Bow-legged”
= femoral valgus + tibial varus
 Stresses the lateral aspect of the
knee --> Predisposing factor for
iliotibial band friction syndrome

Images from Basic Biomechanics by Susan J. hall (9th ed.)

 In-class Presentations

 Step-Up

Today’s Presenters:
• Kerwin Abraham
• Evander Alexis
• Keron Dorner
• Ronaldo Fournillier
• Keevan Maharaj
• Kevin Williams

Image from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs4t-Lr6lOg&t=8s&ab_channel=InspireUS

Exercise Analysis – Biceps Curl

Image from https://www.armyprt.com/special_conditioning_programs/biceps-curl.shtml

 Biceps Curl Analysis

 Plane of motion
 Sagittal

 Axis of Rotation
 Mediolateral

 Muscles worked?

Image from https://fitnessprogramer.com/exercise/dumbbell-curl/

 Biceps Curl Analysis

• Starting Position?

• Movement pattern?
• Concentric phase
• Eccentric phase

• Posture?

• Joint Actions?

Image from https://www.armyprt.com/special_conditioning_programs/biceps-curl.shtml

 Step Up Analysis

Presenters for next class…

• Antonio Ambris
• Kayla Celestine
• Chelsea Fong
• Rain Harper
• Javier King
• Renee Roopnarine
• Bradley Thomas

Image from https://www.armyprt.com/special_conditioning_programs/biceps-curl.shtml

End of Lecture