INTRODUCTION TO MOVEMENT

dr.ambrina Rasool
DPT (TUF)
MS,PTN (UOL)
 Body Levers
Bones and joints form levers…. arms and fulcrum .
Structure of joint determined the type and direction of
movement .
Lever function when force applied on it.
 Forces applied to the body levers
Forces may be external or internal.
External….. Gravity or pressure of the PT’s hand.
Internal …muscular contraction.
Direction of applied force determines the direction of
movement. e.g. movement under gravity or movement
resulting from muscle contraction ….
Direction of muscle pull is determined by the position of
muscle.
Normally two or more forces compounded on body levers at a
time.
These forces modifies the direction of movement.
 Types of Movement and Posture

Passive Movement: movement produce by the

application of external force.
Active Movement: movement resulting from the
contraction of muscles.

Forces maintaining the body in specific attitudes or

postures may be external or internal in character and
balance or stability is achieved in both inactive or
active posture.
 Types of Muscle Contraction

Isometric contraction (iso- equal , metric –

measurement)
 Increase in intra-muscular tension without any change in
the length of the muscle.

Isotonic contraction
 Increase in intra-muscular tension accompanied by a
change in length of the muscle. The change in length may
be shorten or lengthen the muscle.
 Types of Muscle work
Static Muscle Work: Muscle contract isometrically to counter-
balance opposing forces and maintaining stability but there is
no movement ,no work done.

Concentric Muscle Work: (concentric- towards center) The

muscle contract isotonically in shortening to produce
movement.

Eccentric Muscle Work: (eccentric- from the center) the

muscle contract isotonically in lengthening.
Direction of movement opposite the direction of muscle pull.
 Range of Muscle Work
Full Range: maximum excursion possible .
Inner Range: The part nearest to the point at which
movement the muscle is in its shortest position.

Outer Range: The part which is nearest to the point at

which the muscle is fully extended.

Middle Range: the muscle is neither fully shortened nor

fully extended as it works.
 Strength of Muscle contraction
Muscle’s ability to generate tension(intra muscular
tension).
The strength of muscle contraction varies in
proportion to the tension exerted by the forces which
oppose its action.
Strength of muscle contraction is control by system
of motor unit.
A Motor Unit consists of a single neurone and the
group of muscle fibers it supplies.
Motor Unit
 Group Action of Muscles
Functionally muscles work together in groups although each
muscle have specific part to play in relation to the action of
the whole group.
The integrity of many muscles required for the production of
efficient functional movement.

1. Agonists (prime movers)

Group of muscles which contract to provide the force
required to produce the movement.
2. Antagonists
Muscles whose action would oppose that of the agonists.
control the movement…
3. Synergists
Muscles 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.
e.g.  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.
4. Fixators
These muscles work to stabilize the bones of origin of the
agonists to increase their efficiency for the production of
movement and to secure stability of the body as a whole.
 Pattren of Movement

Most functional movement pattern require movement

in several joints , i.e. mass movements.

Localise movements are developed from mass

movement pattern by a conscious process of learning.
 Timing in Movement
Timing is the sequence of muscular contraction which takes
place in the production of movement.
Faulty timing frequently accounts for inefficiency of the
movement…..

Timing of functional movements usually proceeds from

distal to proximal .