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Chapter 01
What is Biomechanics?
Multiple Choice Questions
- Which of the following is the most appropriate definition of biomechanics?
A.the study of human movement
B. the study of biological organisms
C. the study of movement mechanics
D. the study of the mechanical aspects of biological organisms
- Which of the following terms is applied to the study of systems in a constant state of motion?
A.statics
B. dynamics
C. anthropometrics
D. plyometrics
- What term is given to considerations such as the size, shape, and weight of body segments?
A.cybernetic
B. anthropometric
C. kinematic
D. kinetic
- Which of the following would not be measured in a kinematic analysis of a tennis serve?
A.angular velocity
B. linear velocity
C. muscular force
D. angular acceleration
- Which of the following is an example of a kinetic consideration?
A.muscle force producing a vertical jump
B. impact force landing from a jump
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following is an example of a static situation?
A.a cyclist riding at a constant velocity
B. a person balancing motionless on one foot
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following is associated with kinematics?
A.force
B. displacement
C. mass
D. all of the above
- Which of the following are anthropometric factors?
A.the length of a forearm
B. the shape of a body
C. the weight of the trunk
D. all of the above
- Which of the following is included in sports medicine?
A.clinical aspects of exercise and sport
B. scientific aspects of exercise and sport
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following topics might be studied by biomechanists?
A.optimal form during the pole vault
B. forces on the spine during lifting
C. the mechanics of the jump shot
D. all of the above
- Biomechanics has roots in which of the following disciplines?
A.physics
B. biology
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following questions about the long jump should be answered quantitatively?
A.What is the horizontal velocity at take-off?
B. What is the angle at take-off?
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following characterizes a formal problem?
A.a goal or answer
B. a set of given information
C. a set of operations that can be used to arrive at the desired answer from the given information
D. all of the above
- What does the word qualitative mean?
A.general
B. numerical
C. pertaining to quality
D. all of the above
- Which of the following statements is true regarding qualitative analysis?
A.It is always of a general nature.
B. It does not involve the use of numbers.
C. Both A and B.
D. Neither A nor B.
- Which of the following professionals regularly make use of qualitative observations?
A.teachers
B. coaches
C. clinicians
D. all of the above
- Which of the following are components of a structured approach to problem solving?
A.writing down the given information
B. drawing a diagram representing the problem situation
C. rereading the problem to look for additional information that may be inferred from the problem statement
D. all of the above
- Which of the following countries uses the metric system?
A.France
B. Germany
C. Japan
D. all of the above
- In which of the following systems of measurement are units of the same variable related to each other by factors of ten?
A.the English system
B. the metric system
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following conversions is accurate?
A.2.54 cm = 1 in
B. 2.54 in = 1 cm
C. 4.45 lb = 1 N
D. none of the above
- Which of the following is true about osteoporosis?
A.it is a disease with acute onset
B. it inevitably accompanies aging
C. it is a lifestyle disease that develops and progresses over a number of years
D. all of the above are true
- Which of the following is a risk factor for osteoporosis?
A.physical inactivity
B. estrogen deficiency
C. excessive consumption of caffeine
D. all of the above
- Which of the following is true about carpal tunnel syndrome?
A.it is a neurological impairment
B. it is associated with repetitive keyboard use
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which of the following is an example of equipment designed to enhance performance?
A.Klapskate
B. aerodynamic helmet
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Biomechanical analysis has revealed which of the following about high velocity pitchers compared to lower velocity pitchers?
A.they have greater internal rotation at the shoulder
B. they have greater upright posture at release
C. they have higher angular velocity of the pelvis and upper torso
D. all of the above
- Biomechanical research has contributed to which of the following?
A.injury prevention
B. enhanced sport performance
C. equipment design
D. all of the above
- Why is swimming not the best exercise for prevention of osteoporosis?
A.no weight bearing
B. water resistance is hard on the bones
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which of the following could be performed by a biomechanist?
A.quantitative analysis of human movement
B. qualitative analysis of human movement
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which type of analysis involves identifying, analyzing and answering a question of interest?
A.quantitative
B. qualitative
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Choose the term or phrase that is not synonymous with the others.
A.metric system
B. English system
C. International system of units
D. S. I.
- What is the base unit for mass in the metric system?
A.Newton
B. kilogram
C. meter
D. slug
- A 200 lb. man weighs approximately what in metric units?
A.890 N
B. 45 N
C. 440 kg
D. none of the above
- Which of the following is true regarding mechanics?
A.branch of physics
B. analyzes the actions of forces on particles
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which of the following defines inference?
A.the process of elimination
B. the process of forming deductions from available information
C. the process of observation in a qualitative analysis
D. none of the above
- Which of the following is true?
A.No particular biomechanical factors have been associated with running economy.
B. 3-year olds walking fast can use 70% more energy than adults.
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Astronauts who travel out of the earth’s gravitational field have experienced which of the following?
A.increased bone density
B. reduced strength
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Exercise walking can have which of the following effects?
A.improved balance in older adults
B. decreased likelihood of falls in older adults
C. decreased risk of osteoporosis for women
D. all of the above
- Which of the following affects the flight of a discus?
A.speed at release
B. projection angle
C. orientation angle relative to the wind
D. all of the above
- The high incidence of knee injuries among snow skiers is partially due to which of the following?
A.rigid boot which limit ankle motion
B. bindings which release during a fall
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Possible detrimental effects of knee braces include(s) which of the following?
A.changes muscle activity during gait
B. reduces sprinting speed
C. increases onset of fatigue
D. all of the above
Fill in the Blank Questions
- ______________ refers to an excessive loss of bone mineral mass and strength resulting in one or more fractures.
Osteoporosis
- An overuse condition caused by compression of the median nerve, involving numbness, tingling and pain in the hand is called __________________________________________.
carpal tunnel syndrome
- The branch of biomechanics which studies the actions of forces is called __________________.
kinetics
- A field that focuses on the prevention of work-related injuries and the improvement of working conditions and worker performance is known as ______________ biomechanics.
occupational
- Sport shoes are designed to prevent ____________________________ and enhance __________________.
excessive loading; performance
Short Answer Questions
- What are the two key strategies for preventing osteoporotic fractures?
Answers will vary
- List four innovations in sport equipment developed by biomechanists.
Answers will vary
- Explain how equipment innovation has improved performance and/or prevented injury.
Answers will vary
- Name three professions related to kinesiology and explain how each will benefit from a knowledge of biomechanics.
Answers will vary
- Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative problems and give an example of each one that is related to a kinesiology topic.
Answers will vary
True / False Questions
- Within the fields of kinesiology and exercise science, the living organism most commonly of interest to the biomechanist is the human body.
TRUE
- The kinetics of an exercise or sport skill execution is commonly known as form or technique.
FALSE
- Force can be thought of as a push or a pull acting on a body.
TRUE
- More than half of all sport injuries are to the knee.
TRUE
- Promising work in the development of intervention strategies has shown that the key to preventing falls may be the ability to limit trunk motion.
TRUE
Short Answer Questions
56. Application of mechanical principles in the study of living organisms
Branch of mechanics dealing with systems in a constant state of motion
Branch of mechanics dealing with systems subject to acceleration
Study of the description of motion, including considerations of space and time
Study of the action of forces
Study of human movement
Overuse condition caused by compression of the median nerve
Involving the use of numbers
Involving nonnumeric description of quality
System of weights and measures used internationally in scientific applications
- Biomechanics
B. Carpal tunnel syndrome
C. Dynamics
D. English system
E. Kinematics
F. Kinesiology
G. Kinetics
H. Mechanics
I. Metric system
J. Qualitative
K. Quantitative
L. Sports medicine
M. Statics
N. Tennis elbow
Chapter 05
The Biomechanics of Human Skeletal Articulations
Multiple Choice Questions
- Which of the following is not associated with synarthrodial joints?
A.typically weak
B. fibrous
C. immovable
D. sutures of the skull
- Which of the following is an example of a uniaxial joint?
A.hip
B. carpals
C. elbow
D. base of thumb
- Which of the following is associated with triaxial joints?
A.ball and socket
B. 3 axes
C. hip
D. all of the above
- Which of the following terms does not fit with the others?
A.carpals
B. short bones
C. gliding movements
D. uniaxial
- The knee is an example of which type joint?
A.fibrous
B. synarthroses
C. synovial
D. amphiarthroses
- A triaxial joint allows which of the following movements?
A.flexion and extension
B. abduction and adduction
C. rotation and circumduction
D. all of the above
- Hinge joints have how many axes?
A.none
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
- Which of the following are functions of articular cartilage?
A.minimize friction and wear at a joint
B. protect against joint dislocation
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following are examples of articular fibrocartilage?
A.the intervertebral discs
B. the menisci of the knee
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which of the following characterizes the “close-packed position” at a joint?
A.joint stability is minimum
B. muscular tension is maximum
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following is/are true regarding amphiarthrodial joints?
A.Hyaline cartilage holds the bones together.
B. They are slightly moveable.
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Which of the following refers to the stretching of muscles, tendons, and ligaments by a force other than tension in the antagonist muscles?
A.active stretching
B. passive stretching
C. ballistic stretching
D. none of the above
- Which type of flexibility accompanies the ROM achieved by actively contracting the antagonist muscle?
A.static flexibility
B. dynamic flexibility
C. passive stretching
D. none of the above
- Which of the following does not affect the range of motion at a joint?
A.the degree of tonus of surrounding muscles and ligaments
B. the shape of the articular surfaces
C. the exercise habits of the individual
D. the number of proprioceptors present at the joint
- Which of the following heightens the risk of injury?
A.low flexibility
B. high flexibility
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Where are Golgi tendon organs located?
A.in tendons
B. in the junctions between muscles and their tendons
C. interspersed throughout the fibers of muscles
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- The stretch reflex, or myotatic reflex, is provoked by activation of which of the following in a stretched muscle?
A.muscle spindles
B. Golgi tendon organs
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- The technique of muscle stretching known as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is based on responses elicited from which of the following?
A.Golgi tendon organs
B. muscle spindles
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation is an example of what type of stretching?
A.active stretching
B. passive stretching
C. ballistic stretching
D. none of the above
- Which of the following joint injuries is accompanied by inflammation?
A.sprains
B. dislocations
C. bursitis
D. all of the above
- Which of the following are characteristics of diarthrodial joints?
A.Articulating bone surfaces are covered with articular cartilage.
B. An articular capsule surrounds the joint.
C. They are lubricated by synovial fluid.
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- Which of the following is/are characteristic(s) of bursae?
A.They are associated with synovial joints.
B. They separate tendons from bones to reduce friction.
C. They separate skin from bones to reduce friction.
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- Which of the following is/are characteristic(s) of tendon sheaths?
A.They are synovial structures.
B. They surround tendons.
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which of the following contain synovial fluid?
A.bursae
B. tendon sheaths
C. articular cartilage
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- Which connective tissue attaches muscle to bone?
A.ligaments
B. tendons
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- What characteristics do tendons and ligaments share with muscles?
A.extensibility
B. elasticity
C. contractility
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- Which statement(s) is/are true?
A.Exercise can increase the size and strength of tendons.
B. Exercise can increase the size and strength of ligaments.
C. Exercise can increase the strength of tendon junction with a bone.
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- The “ability of a joint to resist abnormal displacement” defines what?
A.joint stability
B. joint flexibility
C. loose-packed position
D. none of the above
- Joint stability is affected by which of the following?
A.shape of the articulating bones
B. arrangement and size of ligaments
C. area of contact between the bones
D. all of the above
- Which of the following statements is/are true?
A.The hip is more stable than the shoulder.
B. The shoulder has more range of motion than the hip.
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- What is the result when a ligament is stretched beyond its elastic limit?
A.A sprain occurs.
B. Joint stability may be temporarily compromised.
C. Joint stability may be permanently compromised.
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- Which statement(s) is/are true?
A.When muscles are fatigued, ligaments are at a greater risk of injury.
B. When ligaments are fatigued, muscles are at a greater risk of injury.
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
- A goniometer is used to directly measure what?
A.muscle flexibility
B. joint range of motion
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Range of motion at a joint is influenced by which of the following?
A.shape of the articulating surfaces
B. relative laxity and extensibility of the muscles crossing the joint
C. fluid content of the cartilage within the joint
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
- The term “hypermobile” is used to describe what?
A.a joint with an unusually large range of motion
B. a joint with an unusually small range of motion
C. a gymnast
D. a sprinter
- Golgi tendon organs respond in which of the following ways?
A.inhibit tension in the activated muscle
B. initiate tension in the antagonist muscle
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which of the following activates the muscle spindles?
A.knee-jerk test
B. ballistic stretching
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
- Which type of stretching demonstrates greater range of motion?
A.active stretching
B. passive stretching
C. A and B are equal
D. need more information
- Which type(s) of arthritis is/are non-inflammatory?
A.rheumatoid arthritis
B. osteoarthritis
C. both A and B
D. none of the above (both A and B are inflammatory)
- Which of the following is true regarding bursitis?
A.overuse injury
B. frictional irritation in one or more bursae
C. inflammation
D. both A and B
E. all of the above
Fill in the Blank Questions
- The articular fibrocartilage partial disc in the knee is called __________________.
meniscus
- The myotatic reflex, also known as ______________ reflex, is provoked by the activation of the muscle spindles in a stretched muscle.
stretch
- A series of quick, bouncing-type stretches is called ______________ stretching.
ballistic
- The carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb is an example of a ______________ joint.
saddle
- _______________ connect bone to bone and _________________ connect muscle to bone.
Ligaments; tendons
Short Answer Questions
- Describe one type of PNF stretching.
Answers will vary
- List and describe four different joint injuries or pathologies.
Answers will vary
- Explain the factors that contribute to joint stability.
Answers will vary
- Describe the different types of stretching exercises used to increase flexibility, including the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Answers will vary
- Describe the different types of synovial joints including movement and stability implications.
Answers will vary
True / False Questions
- Damaged articular cartilage can typically heal or regenerate on its own.
FALSE
- Pre-participation stretching has no effect on overuse type injuries.
TRUE
- Studies show that PNF techniques can significantly increase joint range of motion after a single stretching session.
TRUE
- Third-degree sprains are the mildest.
FALSE
- The most common site for a sprain is the knee.
FALSE
Short Answer Questions
- Protective layer of dense white connective tissue covering the articulating bone surfaces at diarthrodial joints
Clear, slightly yellow liquid that provides lubrication inside the articular capsule at synovial joints
Ability of a joint to resist abnormal displacement of the articulating bones
Joint orientation for which the contact between the articulating bone surfaces is maximum
Angle through which a joint moves from anatomical position to the extreme limit of segment motion in a particular direction
Sensory receptor that inhibits tension development in a muscle and initiates tension development in the antagonist muscles
Inhibition of tension development in the antagonist muscles resulting from activation of muscles spindles
A series of quick, bouncing-type stretches
Maintaining a slow, controlled, sustained stretch over time, usually about 30 seconds
A group of stretching procedures involving alternating contraction and relaxation of the muscles being stretched
- Active stretching
B. Articular capsule
C. Articular cartilage
D. Articular fibrocartilage
E. Ballistic stretching
F. Close-packed position
G. Dynamic stretching
H. Golgi tendon organ
I. Joint flexibility
J. Joint stability
K. Loose-packed position
L. Muscle spindle
M. Passive stretching
N. PNF stretching
O. Range of motion
P. Reciprocal inhibition
Q. Static stretching
R. Stretch reflex
S. Synovial fluid
