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Kinesiology is the scientifi c study of human motion. Movement evaluation is an important component of clinical care, especially when you are looking at massage from an orthopedic perspective. Orthopedics is the branch of medicine that deals with function and problems within the locomotor (movement) systems. Consequently, kinesiology is at the root of the whole fi eld of orthopedics, and the treatment of pain and injury conditions. Kinesiology can be split into three distinct disciplines: • Musculoskeletal anatomy: The study of structure and form • Neuromuscular physiology: The coordinated activities of the neurological and muscular systems that govern movement • Biomechanics: Principles of mechanical physics applied to the human body Let's take a look at these areas and how their study relates to practical clinical applications of massage. MUSCULOSKELETAL ANATOMY Studying anatomy is a signifi cant component of most massage school training programs. For some, this study may have seemed like a constant process of memorization without a true understanding of real-life application. However, a thorough knowledge of the structure and function of the body is essential. This knowledge helps us recognize how specifi c tissues may be involved in a client's pain complaint and what treatment strategies are likely to be most effective. Studying kinesiology helps you appreciate the integrated function of tissues and physiological processes throughout the body. In massage school training, education is focused more on muscles than on other pain-producing locomotor tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, or nerves. It is great that we place so much attention on muscles; however, this focus comes at the cost of not paying attention to the role of other soft tissues involved in movement- system disorders. Applying the science of kinesiology helps massage therapists develop a more balanced approach. Clinical Applications of Anatomy There are many benefi ts of applying sound anatomical knowledge. If a client comes in and points to a location in which they are experiencing pain, we should recognize the structures. Likewise, if somebody reports having sustained a biomechanically involved injury, such as a high impact force on their shoulder like in a sports collision, we should understand what structures took the brunt of that force and may be involved in the injury. NEUROMUSCULAR PHYSIOLOGY While anatomy is the study of structure, physiology is the study of function. Proper movement requires a tightly integrated coordination with the neurological and muscular systems. Outgoing neurological signals are necessary to engage motor activity, while incoming neurological signals provide essential feedback to monitor movement. Interestingly, scientists were able to teach a computer how to beat a world-class chess champion before they were able to develop a mechanical robot that could consistently walk across the fl oor. That is how intricate neuromuscular integration is for just walking. In kinesiology, the emphasis on neuromuscular physiology begins with a basic understanding of three types of muscular contractions in movement: • Concentric contractions are muscle contractions in which the two ends of a muscle are brought closer together, and the overall length of the muscle shortens during the movement. Concentric contractions are generally associated with acceleration movements that are trying to overcome some existing force, such as gravity, moving a weight, or other external forces. • Eccentric contractions are muscle contractions in which the two ends of the muscle are separated farther even though the muscle is still getting a contraction stimulus. Eccentric contractions are most The three contributing branches of kinesiology. 1 Kinesiology is the scientifi c study evaluation is an important component of clinical care, especially when you a high impact force on their shoulder like in a sports collision, we should understand what structures took the brunt of that force and may be involved in the injury. NEUROMUSCULAR PHYSIOLOGY N e w ! A B M P P o c k e t P a t h o l o g y a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / a b m p - p o c k e t - p a t h o l o g y - a p p . 85