CSET Practice Test Physical Education

BIOMECHANICS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT

1. Biomechanics is the science concerned with the
interrelationship of the biologic properties of the
skeletal, articular, and neuromuscular systems and of the
laws and principles of mechanics.

2. Biomechanics is concerned with both internal and
external factors that affect movement of one's body,

as well as the movement of implements or other equipment
used in exercise, sport, or other physical activity.
Applications of biomechanics are seen in medicine,
industry and the military, as well as in physical
education and athletics.

3. Bones of the skeletal system that articulate at a joint
serve as anatomic levers effecting movement upon
application of force generated by skeletal muscle
contraction.

4. Primary functions of skeletal muscle are affected by
number, arrangement, length, and type of fibers. Some
muscles are more powerful, while others permit greater
endurance or range of movement.

5. Even relatively simple movements, e.g., walking,
involve the action of numerous muscles in one or more of
several roles to produce an efficient effort.

6. The somatic nervous system is involved with reception
(afferent) and conduction (efferent) of neural impulses
and ultimately, with the activity of skeletal muscle.

7. The basic functional structure of the neuromuscular
system is the motor unit, which consists of a single motor
nerve cell, together with its nerve fiber and the group of
muscle fibers supplied by its branches. The strength of
muscle contraction is dependent on how many motor units
are activated by the central nervous system.

8. Dynamics is the aspect of mechanics in which motion of
an object is brought about by unbalanced forces. There are
two branches of dynamics: (a) kinematics, which deals with
descriptive analysis of motion without consideration of
forces causing motion; and (b) kinetics, which deals with
the interrelationship of forces causing motion.

9. Kinematics includes the measurement of displacement,
velocity, speed and acceleration in both linear and rotary
(angular) motion about an axis.

10. Newton's three laws of motion addressing the concepts
of inertia, acceleration, and action-reaction,provide an
integrative understanding of forces affecting objects in
motion, and are the cornerstone of kinetics.

11. Forces that modify motion include gravity, friction,
momentum, impulse, and impact.

12. Statics is that aspect of mechanics, in which forces
acting on an object are in equilibrium. Center of gravity
and stability are concepts basic to static balance.

13. Torque, moment of inertia, angular velocity, and
angular momentum provide analogues of Newton's three laws
applicable to rotary motion. The work accomplished in
rotary motion is dependent on the mechanical advantage of
the lever system(s) employed.

14. In human physical performance, movements of one's
body, as well as those of objects kicked, thrown, or
caught, take place in a fluid environment, and are subject
to the net propulsive force of drag and lift.

15. An increasingly wide variety of mechanical and
electrical devices are being utilized to measure specific
skeletal and neuromuscular interactions with mechanical
factors affecting human movement.

16. The development of high-speed computers has provided
the most important impetus for advances in bio- mechanics
research. Some of this research has been successfully
applied to effect improvements in perfor- mance and
prevention of exercise and sports related injuries.

17. Principles of biomechanics are also applicable to
movement entailed in daily living activities and many
occupational tasks which, if employed properly, lead to
reduced incidence of strain and injury, more effi- cient
movement, and less fatigue.

ANAEROBIC TRAINING  

Anaerobic training is shorter than aerobic training in
duration (less than two minutes), in which oxygen is not a
limiting factor in performance, and requires energy from
anaerobic sources. These energy sources involve the
utilization of phosphagen and lactic acid by the athlete's
body; and enables them to perform brief, near maximal
muscular activity (<2 min). Events, or activity that lasts
up to 30 seconds in length, rely almost exclusively on the
phosphagen system. 

Activity that lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, begin to
rely on lactic acid (again, any activity beyond two
minutes becomes aerobic training). These energy systems
are effectively developed using an interval training
system. It is important note that although one energy
system may be predominate for a given activity, all
systems are in use to some degree during anaerobic, or
interval training. 

Interval training uses, as named, intervals that can
consist of running, swimming, calisthenic exercises, or
resistance training. Work intervals, which also include
rest intervals, vary depending on the athletes mode of
training, or need (need analysis). For example; work
intervals of less than 30 seconds (phosphagen system), are
typically performed with rest intervals of approximately
three times this duration.

This type of training does not allow for full recovery
between bouts of work and is often done during the middle,
to later part of the athlete's preseason training period. 

As the competition phase approaches, preseason interval
training consists of longer rest intervals to accommodate
the near-maximal intensity. Exercising involving the
lactic acid energy source generally has an exercise-to-
rest ratio of 1:2 (one second of activity, to two seconds
of rest). 

Full recovery is not achieved, but as athletes perform
more of this type of training, they will be better able to
tolerate and utilize increased concentrations of lactic
acid. Most athletes involved in strength and power
activities, such as football, baseball, basketball,
volleyball, running events under 800 m, and swimming
events under 100 m, utilize both of the anaerobic energy
sources to supply the majority of required energy. 

Interval training should comprise the bulk of their
metabolic training. Each stage in an athlete's training
requires modification of the various modes and methods of
training according to the goals set by the athlete, skill
coach, and conditioning specialist. The basic programs
design is to meet the critical needs of the athlete.
Modification of the program, or some variation in these
guidelines may be appropriate for different age groups and
fitness levels. 

The most important principle of conditioning (sequencing)
may be listening to your body. The successful athlete has
an optimal blend of training modes and methods. The
successful athlete has an optimal blend of training modes
and methods. And just as with any other type of fitness,
the intensity and duration of training must be increased
gradually over time in a logical progression that allows
the athlete to peak for the most important competitions. 

To understand what an athlete's program will consist of, a
needs analysis should be a priority. A needs analysis is
when the professional (strength coach, skills coach,
parent, head coach, assistant coach, advisor, et al)
analyzes the fitness needs of both the activity and the
individual athlete involved in the sport. To develop a
needs analysis first analyze the physiological and
biomechanical requirements of each sport. 

A physiological analysis will allow you to devise a
program that addresses the aspects of strength, muscular
endurance, flexibility, cardiorespriatory endurance,
power, and speed required for success in the sport. A
biomechanical analysis will allow you to choose training
activities that develop the athlete in the manner most
specific to the sport and also to determine the areas of
critical stress in the sport. Strength and weaknesses in
each athlete need to be assessed by the chosen
professional. As stated, different sports require various
levels of fitness and all athletes should be tested, or
analyzed for strength, flexibility, endurance, power and
speed. Also needed by a medical professional, is an injury
profile on each participating athlete to determine
specific needs with regard to injury prevention, or
adaptation.