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Now that the essentials of kinesiology have been established, this unit presents the functional applications of kinesiology from a clinical perspective. These chapters offer a fitting conclusion to this text on kinesiology as we apply all of the concepts and functional anatomy described in the preceding chapters to the performance of daily and functional activities. As was mentioned in the introduction of this text, this is the part of kinesiology that clinicians enjoy and appreciate the most. The chapters in this section are important for their application and the assistance that novices in the field are provided regarding what to look for in patient task execution and how to recognize the patient's deficiencies. Realizing that these factors are the first step in designing and providing a clinical plan to permit the patient's improved performance of functional tasks is crucial to any clinician's education.
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Chapter 12 begins with posture analysis, postural control elements, and postural sway issues. The majority of this chapter involves investigation of gait. Differences in gait terminology are presented along with the determinants of gait, the kinematic and kinetic issues of gait for all the involved joints, challenges to gait efficiency, and ambulation with assistive devices. Additionally, gait as it changes over the life cycle is discussed along with pathologies commonly found in gait. The various changes in demands of joint motion during different running speeds are also presented.
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Chapter 13 presents clinical information on ergonomics involved in common tasks in both household and occupational activities. Ergonomics as it affects the clinician is also presented. An analysis of functions involved in pathological conditions including mobility transfers is also a part of this chapter.
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Chapter 14 provides information on analysis of activities of daily living with emphasis on requirements of the upper extremities. Common daily activities are investigated for their requirements of joint mobility, muscle activity, and sequencing.
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Chapter 15 is the final chapter. This chapter identifies common sports and leisure activities and analyzes them for their kinesiological requirements. Activities that are commonly seen by clinicians are used as examples in this chapter.
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Chapters 13, 14, 15 are here to help you begin to analyze motion in a variety of settings from daily activities each of us is required to perform to specialized activities that may be unique to different settings, environments, and populations. These chapters do not include all activities within the categories of each chapter but provide for you examples of motion analysis. All clinicians are required to know the demands of the activities of their patients so that appropriate rehabilitation programs will provide those patients with an optimal ability to perform their required activities. To that end, clinicians must understand the kinesiological requirements of each task and translate those requirements into the rehabilitation programs they provide for their patients. After completing these chapters, you should have an understanding of how ...