RHS 341
course Syllabus
1st semester 2007/2008
Course Title: Kinesiology
Course Number: RHS 341
Credit Hours: 2 Theory + 1 Practical = 3 hours
Course Instructor: Dr. Einas Al-Eisa
Course Description: This course deals with the mechanics of human motion from a functional anatomy perspective. Special emphasis will be given on the nature of the musculoskeletal system, differences between normal and abnormal posture, as well as analysis of gait (locomotion).
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to integrate the three major theoretical approaches which are of immediate concern to physiotherapists, which include:
- Anatomical approach: in which students identify a body structure (e.g., a muscle or a joint), then describe its potential to produce or allow movement based on its size, geometry, and orientation.
- Physiological approach: students are advised to understand the process involved in the initiation, continuation, and control of movement.
- Mechanical approach: in which students consider the mechanical factors involved in body motion, such as force, time and distance.
Course Outline
Week 1 (September 15 & 17)
Movement Terminology & Biomechanical Principles:
- Kinesiology: what &why?
- Reference position
- Anatomical directional terminology
- Planes of motion
- Axes of rotation
- Movements in joints
- Kinetics versus Kinematics
Week 2 (September 22 & 24)
Skeletal Considerations for Movement:
- Functions of the skeletal system
- Architecture of bone
- Types of bones
- Types of joints
- Degrees of freedom (joint motion)
- Close-packed versus Loose-packed position
- The kinetic chain: open versus closed
- The Kinematic chain
Week 3 (September 29 & October 1)
Muscular Considerations for Movement:
- Types of muscle contraction (Isometric, Isotonic: Eccentric & Concentric)
- Role of muscles (agonist, antagonist, stabilizers, synergists, neutralizers)
- Origin versus Insertion
- Arrangement of fascicles
- Isokinetic exercises
- Muscle strength & electromyography
Week 4 (October 20 & 22)
Laws of motion and physical activities:
- Linear (translatory) versus Angular (rotatory) movement
- Displacement versus Distance
- Speed versus Velocity
- Newton’s laws: 1) Law of inertia, 2) Law of acceleration, 3) Law of reaction
Week 5 (October 27 & 29)
Basics of Kinetics / Force:
- Internal versus external forces
- Composition of forces
- Force systems
- Force analysis
- Resolution of forces
- Torque or moment of force
- Work, Power, Energy
Week 6 (November 3 & 5)
1st Midterm examination
Week 7 (November 10 & 12)
Basic Biomechanical Concepts:
- Levers (first-class, second-class, third-class)
- Factors affecting anatomical levers (Torque, Length of lever arm, Angle of pull)
- Mechanical advantage
- Laws of Levers
- Differences between levers
Week 8 (November 17 & 19)
Balance, Equilibrium, and Stability:
- Definitions
- Static versus Dynamic equilibrium
- Center of gravity
- Base of support
- Factors contributing to stability
- Factors for achieving balance
Week 9 (November 24 & 26)
Posture:
- Factors affecting posture
- Static versus dynamic posture
- Posture and life cycle
- Standing posture
- Sitting posture
- Lifting
- Postural sway
Week 10 (December 1 & 3)
Postural Deviations:
- Faulty posture
- Scoliosis
- Kyphosis
- Lordosis
- Postural re-education (physiotherapy intervention)
- Establishment of neuromuscular control (conscious versus automatic control)
Week 11 (December 8 & 10)
2nd Midterm examination
Week 12 (December 29 & 31)
Gait:
- Gait versus locomotion
- Prerequisites of gait
- Gait cycle
- Phases of gait
- Role of the lower limb muscles in gait (normal pattern)
- Ground reaction force vector
- Gait analysis (assessment)
Week 13 (January 5 & 7)
Pathological gait:
- Causes of abnormal gait
- Weakness of hip extensors
- Weakness of hip abductors
- Weakness of knee extensors
- Weakness of dorsiflexors
- Weakness of calf muscles
- Examples of abnormal gait: (shuffling gait, high stepping gait, spastic gait, hemiplegic gait, waddling gait, trendelenburg gait)
- Correction of gait
- Crutches gait
Week 14 (January 12 & 14)
General revision
Week 15 (January 19)
Final examination
Methods of evaluation:
2 Midterm exams 2 X 20% = 40%
2 Assignments 2 X 10% = 20%
1 Final exam 40%
References:
1. Floyd RT & Thompson CW. Manual of Structural Kinesiology, 14th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2001. [Chapters 1 & 12]
2. Hamill J & Knutzen KM. Biomechanical Basis of Human Movement, 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2003. [Chapters 2, 3, 6, &10]
3. Tyldesley B & Grieve JI. Muscles, Nerves and Movement, 2nd ed. Blackwell Science Ltd; 1996. [Chapters 2 & 10]
4. Smith LK, Weiss EL, & Lehmkuhl LD. Brunnstrom’s Clinical Kinesiology, 5th ed. Jaypee Brothers; 1998. [Chapter 12]
5. Galley PM & Forster AL. Human Movement: An Introductory Text for Physiotherapy Students, 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone; 1987. [Chapters 5, 6, & 22]
6. Jenkins DB. Hollinshead’s Functional Anatomy of the Limbs and Back, 7th ed. WB Saunders Company; 1998.
7. Porter S. Tidy’s Physiotherapy, 13th ed. Butterworth Heinemann; 2003. [Chapter 6]
8. Tidswell M. Orthopaedic Physiotherapy. Mosby International Limited; 1998. [Chapter 3]
9. Hamilton N & Luttgens K. Kinesiology: Scientific Basis of Human Motion, 10th ed. McGraw Hill Companies; 2002.