LEVERS

Syeda Amna Iqbal

Lecturer Kinesiology
ICPR
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lecture, DPT semester 1 students will be able to:
• Define lever
• Classify the lever
• Describe the human body levers
LEVER

• A lever is a simple machine made of a rigid bar and a fulcrum

• The effort (input force) and load (output force) are applied to either
end of the bar

• The fulcrum is the point on which the bar pivots

Cont..

• When an effort is applied to one end of the lever, a load is applied at

the other end of the lever

• This will move a mass upward

• The perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to the effort (E) called
effort’s arm

• And from the fulcrum to the weight is weight’s arm

Cont..
• In human body, lever is represented by a bone

• Fulcrum formed at articulating surface of a joint

• Effort is supplied by the force of muscular contraction, applied at

insertion to the bone

• Weight may be either COG of the moving part or the object lifted
Types of levers
• 1st order
• 2nd order
• 3rd order
• These orders characterized by the relative position of fulcrum, effort
and weight
1st order

• Fulcrum is between the effort and the weight

• Situated may be centrally, or towards either the weight or effort

• Consequently effort’s and weight’s arm may be equal or one may

exceed the other in length
2nd order

• The weight is between the fulcrum and effort

• The effort’s arm must always exceed the weight arm
Example:
• Wheelbarrow
• Staplers
• Doors or gates
• Bottle openers
• Nutcracker
3rd Order
• Effort is between the fulcrum and the weight
• Weight arm must exceed the effort’s arm
Mechanical Advantage

• A lever provides mechanical advantage

• Mechanical advantage refers to how much a simple machine multiplies an

applied force

• The location of the effort, load, and fulcrum will determine the type of lever
and the amount of mechanical advantage the machine has

• The farther the effort is away from the fulcrum, the easier it is to move the load
Cont..

• The length of the effort’s arm exceeds that of the weight’s arm, less
effort will be required to achieved the same result

• Advantage will be gained, known as a mechanical advantage

• M.A is the ratio of the weight to the effort

Cont.
• Obtained in 1st order levers when the fulcrum is nearer to the weight
than to the effort in all levers of 1st order

• Never obtained in the 3rd order levers

Cont..
• If the distance from the effort to the fulcrum (effort arm) is greater
than the distance from the load to the fulcrum( weight arm), then the
lever has a mechanical advantage

• Ratio of these two distances is greater than one

Cont..
• When the weight’s arm and effort’s arm are of equal length an effort
equal to the weight will be required to lift

• No advantage is gained but the machine is useful for measuring

weights, e.g. Common balance
Levers of the body

• All three orders of lever found in the human body

• But the 3rd orders are most numerous

1st order

• Order of stability
• State of equilibrium either with or without M.A
Example: Nodding of head
Tilting movements of pelvis on femoral heads
Cont..
• Skull represents the lever

• Atlano-occipital joint fulcrum

• Weight situated anteriorly in the face

• Effort is supplied by the contraction of

the posterior neck muscles at
insertion on occipital bone
2nd Order
• Lever of power
• There must always be a
M.A
• Example:
Heel raise
Flexing elbow
Cont..
• Tarsal and metatarsal bones form
lever

• MTP joint fulcrum

• Weight transmitted through ankle

joint to the talus

• Effort is applied by the calf

muscle contraction
3rd Order

• Lever of velocity
• Always a mechanical disadvantage
• When the lever is fsorearm
• Elbow is the fulcrum
• Effort by brachiallis muscle contraction
• Weight is object in the hand
Levers in Physiotherapy

• A system of lever in human body achieves movement

• Lever principle is also necessary for the progression of muscle

strengthening

• As the strength increases resistance or weight also increased

• Muscle insertion constituting the effort at fixed points to the joints

Cont..
• The only variable factor is the weight and its perpendicular distance
from the fulcrum

• Resistance can be added by increasing weight or increasing the

weight’s arm

• Result will be increased leverage

• Leverage is the mechanical advantage gained by a person using a lever

Cont..
• Increasing leverage is concerned the application of weight

For example:
• Shoulder abduction with elbow flexed reduces the leverage
and relatively weak muscles can perform the movement

• Whereas with straight elbow leverage is increased and more

powerful contraction is required
Cont..
• Amount of external resistance, either manual or mechanical
will determine the muscular effort required to overcome it

For example:
• In lying position, a known resistance apply at knee join level
easily overcome by hip extensors than the same resistance
applied at the when knee is straight