Product Description
The link between structure and function of the musculoskeletal system is clarified and explained in this complete guide to clinical kinesiology. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System is the most comprehensive, research-based, reader-friendly text on kinesiology ever published. Beautifully and abundantly illustrated in two-color, this dynamic, accessible resource presents complex scientific information in an approach designed to draw the reader in and explore the fundamental principles of kinesiology of the trunk and extremities as well as in relation to joints, muscles, and biomechanics.
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
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I used this book to get a better background in applied kinesiology principles to help me with my research into the body mechanics and kinesiology of the martial arts. I am a karate, kung fu, and kali/escrima teacher who has developed some ideas especially about punching and kicking techniques, so I thought I’d make a few comments on that, as this book was very helpful in discussing current theory and practice and helping me to sharpen my own ideas on the subject, especially in regard to the analysis of rapid-fire punching techniques.
There are several mechanisms that need to be discussed. The first thing is that rapid-fire punching requires instantaneously unloading the intrafusal muscle spindles by the use of contralateral inhibition of flexor-extensor pairs. This is a well-understood spinal cord reflex, and just means that muscle viscosity and normal muscle-tension dynamics are inhibited and optimized. In terms of the neural pathways, this is mediated by two nerve tracts, the neospinalthalamic and the paleospinalthalamic tracts, or the alpha and gamma motor efferent systems, respectively. But basically, in muscle kinesiology circles, this is known as a “plyometric jerk,” and is one way that basketball players use to jump higher.
The second thing is that after the first punch, there are released massive shaking forces which propagate through the various musculo-skeletal systems in a quasi-resonant fashion which can be used to facilitate the acceleration and launch of the next punch in the sequence. These, as you might expect, are very difficult dynamics to control, being nonlinear in their behavior, but it is possible to re-sequence the muscles involved in such a punching series to take advantage of them. I have had some success in setting up “standing waves” to take advantage of this phenomenon. Standing wave may not be quite right, from a neuromuscular control standpoint, as it is perhaps more like stochastic resonance, since it can be shown that the muscle fibers use a process known as recruitment which is quite statistical mechanical in nature.
Third, the overall muscle mechanics of such a sequence must use a massive, avalanche-like, pulse-oriented “starting focus” to launch the technique, after which it essentially goes “ballistic” for most of the trajectory of the punch, until final termination when normal “ending focus” is applied. From a practical standpoint, this means the punches are bouncing off the endpoints of the punch, which are strongly focused, but with nothing much in the way of tension in-between. This method also eliminates the wasteful, continuous power-utilization curve that most even very experienced black belts use when they punch. This is okay for a one or two punch combo, but not for much beyond that, because this method of coordinating the muscles will impede the necessary fast switching constants that the nervous pathways require to make this work. The neural pathways involved in this are known as the alpha and gamma-motor efferent systems, and their workings are well understood by neurobiologists.
Well, I hope you didn’t mind my fairly nerdy review. :-) And I hope you find this book and my comments about the kinesiology and neurology of karate techniques useful.
Rating: 5 / 5
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
It`s a good book about kinesiology. Clear illustrations and table summary are available. Not only good for exams but also
good for myself.
Rating: 5 / 5
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
The book was received within about 5 days and it was in excellent condition. I was very satisfied
Rating: 5 / 5
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
I really like this book. Great quality!
Rating: 5 / 5
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
This book had many details that will help establish one’s foundation of kinesiology. It is more advanced but is necessary for a graduate level course.
Rating: 5 / 5
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System