Movement analysis

• FLE 123
• First class levers have the fulcrum in the middle
• The neck is always a first class lever
• The second class lever has the Load in the middle
• Anything to do with the ankle or foot is a second class lever e.g. sprint start or jumping
• The third lever has the effort in the middle
• Movements at the elbow joint are third class levers e.g. tennis forehand
• The fulcrum is the joint
• The effort is the muscle
• The load is the thing that needs moving
•  Short effort arms can make rapid movements and can make a range of movements.
• Short resistance arms can move heavy weights. e.g. second class levers
• The distance between the effort and the fulcrum is called the effort arm.
• The distance between the load (resistance) and the fulcrum is called the resistance arm.
• Mechanical advantage = effort arm divided by ÷ the resistance arm
• Third class levers have an effort arm that is shorter than the resistance arm.
• Third class levers, the effort arm ÷ resistance arm is less than 1.
• Long resistance arms can do quick movement and have a large range of movement
• Second class levers have an effort arm longer than the resistance arm
• Second class levers can support heavy weight but don't have a large range of movement
• The sagittal axis passes horizontally (parallel to the ground) through the centre of the body from back to front and is paired with the frontal plane
• The frontal plane splits the body into front and back and allows abduction and adduction around the sagittal axis
• The longitudinal axis passes through the centre of the body vertically (like a pole) and is paired with the transverse plane which allows rotation
• The transverse plane passes through the body horizontally splitting it into a bottom and top half, it allows for rotation and is paired with the longitudinal axis
• The transverse axis passes horizontally through the centre of the body and is paired with the sagittal plane and allows flexion and extension
• The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right sides and is paired with the transverse axis and allows flexion and extension.
• First class levers can have either a high or low mechanical advantage
• Second class levers have a high mechanical advantage
• Third class lever have a low mechanical advantage
• A lever is a rigid bar that turns about an axis to create movement