<b>Introduction</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">If we do not understand movement, we cannot understand exercise. Yet kinesiology &amp; biomechanics are the least understood after anatomy &amp; physiology (Haines)</span></i>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Many personal trainers are looking for more ways to help clients with their movement problems. One way of doing this is to seek out a deeper understanding of biomechanics &amp; anatomy to gain confidence in knowing what to do, &amp; when. In particular for those who hurt, feel stiff, immobile or wish to improve at a particular sport or activity. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">There are many ways to break the science of biomechanics into components, so much so that it can leave personal trainers fearful about the level of knowledge required to gain skills in this field. So I want to break things down here for you to offer you insight into how our education differs from other schools of biomechanics. Our hope is to demonstrate how our approach is helping personal trainers with a more thorough biomechanical approach to assessment &amp; programme design... </span>

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<b><i>Definition of Biomechanics </i></b>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mechanics is the science of matter &amp; force &amp; their effects on movement &amp; equilibrium. Biomechanics is how this relates to the human body.</span></i>

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<b>Breaking down the components of biomechanics </b>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Here at Biomechanics Education, we categorise this science into 2 types as explained previously in this blog…</span>

<a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-the-difference-between-extrinsic-biomechanics-intrinsic-biomechanics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is the difference between extrinsic biomechanics &amp; intrinsic biomechanics?</span></a>

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This is how our categories fit into the main stream definition.

Extrinsic biomechanics has 2 components as described in main steam biomechanics

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<b>2 components of extrinsic biomechanics</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Kinematics ‘..</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">the branch that deals with the geometry of motion in objects, including displacement, velocity &amp; acceleration, without taking into account the forces that produce the motion</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">…” In other words; video analysis, observational analysis of the client moving</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Kinetics  “..</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.the relationships between the force system acting upon the body &amp; the changes it produces in body motion.." </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is found by equipment such as force plate platforms</span>

<a href="https://www.physio-pedia.com/Biomechanics_In_Sport#:~:text=Biomechanics%20is%20traditionally%20divided%20into%20the%20areas%20of%20kinematics%20and%20kinetics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Physiopedia</a>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">You may also read about biomechanics being divided into <a href="https://www.isnt.org.in/what-are-the-5-components-of-biomechanics.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 components</a> like this…</span>

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<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Motion - the movement of the body, or an object, through space. Speed &amp; acceleration are important parts of motion.</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Force - a push or pull that causes a person or object to speed up, slow down, stop or change direction.</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Momentum - the product of a weight &amp; its velocity when moved</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Levers - could be compared to our arms &amp; legs; there are three parts to a lever – the resistance arm, the fulcrum, &amp; the axis of rotation</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Balance - being stable. An important principle of balance is the alignment of the body’s centre of gravity over the base of support. Having a good balance is important for many sporting &amp; exercise activities</span></li>
</ul>
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<b>intrinsic biomechanics has 3 components</b>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">We teach personal trainers a deeper understanding of the concepts of intrinsic biomechanics by further dividing them into 3 components….</span>

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<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Myofascial - muscles, fascia &amp; other connective tissues</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Skeletal - osseous substructure or bones </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Neural - central nervous system (brain &amp; spinal cord) &amp; peripheral nerves</span></li>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s clear that an understanding of biomechanics at some level is vital for coaching movement &amp; exercise programming. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The biomechanical influences both inside &amp; outside our client’s bodies clearly impact each other &amp; how we see them move. However, it’s important we understand the differences in application &amp; interpretation. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The skill is in understanding what’s happening to the myofascial, skeletal, neural (or intrinsic) structures when observing the influences of motion, levers, momentum, force &amp; balance from the extrinsic biomechanics. </span>

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<strong>Put another way….</strong>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The skill of a Biomechanics Coach is in understanding how the intrinsic biomechanics, or anatomy, is resulting in what we see extrinsically from a mechanical movement perspective in our client’s body. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having an understanding of the normal or typical variations in anatomy is an important advantage for personal trainers when coaching movement or exercises. Human bodies are as diverse intrinsically as they are extrinsically </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The study of intrinsic biomechanics allows a measurable objectivity using a systemised approach to evaluating movement quality thus informing us how to programme safely &amp; systematically. Yet true comprehension comes from allowing for individuality when comparing subject to subject  </span>

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<b>Let’s look at an example during a squat </b>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">There are things about our client's squat we can never alter. Femur length for example will dictate the tibial angle, hip socket depth will dictate the point at which the femur starts to tilt the pelvis posteriorly. The direction the acetabulum is facing in the pelvis will dictate stance widths that feel most comfortable for our clients </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">These factors cannot be altered since they are osseous factors about our client's anatomy that they were born with. Taking an extrinsic biomechanical approach one might assume a client's squat is limited by mobility or tightness. However, if the trainer learns a deeper appreciation of normal anatomical variations they will feel more confident in coaching movement that is right for the individual. which may well require them to perform a squat that is ‘technically’ or extrinsically biomechanically incorrect, but it is ‘correct’ for them as an individual.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Another influence we cannot alter, &amp; must take into consideration here, is joint replacements, surgery or metal plates for example. These are interventions that may alter movement capacity intrinsically.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Taking a biomechanically intrinsic approach is to appreciate the things we can potentially alter even in those with normal variations in anatomy. The goal is to improve movement quality &amp; distribution rather than simply aiming to perfectly align &amp; position to the perfect ‘posture’</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">As trainers, exercise or movement coaches we also want to strengthen our client's bodies. We can use our knowledge of extrinsic biomechanics to increase or decrease loads, progress or regress a programme. For example, using a longer lever for a progression or to increase intensity or a shorter lever to regress or reduce intensity. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">However if we want a deeper squat for our client so they can increase the joint angle at the pelvis to increase intensity on the hip extensors, we may look to assess pelvic function first using intrinsic biomechanical principles. Then improve intrinsic function using METs on the hip extensors. This could be followed by antagonist strengthening of hip flexors to take advantage of reciprocal inhibition &amp; improve joint stability. Thus gaining an advantage on strengthening the agonists or hip extensors at full ROM &amp; improving the joint's strength ratio. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">This could be interpreted as intrinsic biomechanical preparation for an extrinsic biomechanical advantage.</span>

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<ul>
 	<li>Do you have any questions about any of the components?</li>
 	<li>Is this a subject you would like to study?</li>
 	<li>Would you like to enter an inclusive classroom to really deepen your understanding or anatomy?</li>
 	<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">If the intrinsic biomechanics approach in one you would like to learn more about why not get in touch? </span></li>
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<h1><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach-diploma-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to learn how you can &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt; Become a Biomechanics Coach </a></h1>
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