Foundations of Structural Kinesiology
Kinesiology is the science dealing with the interrelationship of the physiological processes and anatomy of the human body with respect to movement.This website is dedicated to the Kinesiology of softball. In the following pages I will match up softball movements and Kinesiology as per chapter of the book "Manual of Structural Kinesiology" by R.T. Floyd.
The Hitting Position.
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First you will notice that the hands are ipsilateral. The remain this way throughout the entire movement. They start on one shoulder and finish on the other. The stay on the same side of the body throughout the whole movement.
Second we should notice the shoulder abduction. When the bat is cocked bat ready to hit the ball the shoulder and arms are away from the mid‐line of the body.
Third you will notice that the neck is in cervical rotation unilaterally. The batter is standing facing first base, but the head and neck are turned toward the pitcher.
Second we should notice the shoulder abduction. When the bat is cocked bat ready to hit the ball the shoulder and arms are away from the mid‐line of the body.
Third you will notice that the neck is in cervical rotation unilaterally. The batter is standing facing first base, but the head and neck are turned toward the pitcher.
Next is the inferior part of the body, or the part that is towards the feet.
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First we will look at the elbow. It is in flexion and the saggital plane bisects this particular motion. Flexion is where two bones are bent towards each other and in turn this results in a decreased angle on the joint. The saggital plane is the plane that bisects the body from front to back.
Second is the hips. In this particular instance the hips are internally rotated because the leg is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the bone and is rotated inward towards the mid‐line of the body.
Third is the left knee. The knee is superior and proximal to the ankle. It is closer to the trunk and head on your body compared to the ankle.
Fourth is the right knee. The knee is in a slight flexion and rotated internally towards the mid‐line of the body. Pivoting the right foot in turn rotates the knee and hip. This is what gives you most of your power when hitting the softball.
Last, is the front foot. In proper technique your put most of your weight on your back foot and your front foot should be in plantar flexion, or you should be on your toes. Also if you look closely you can tell the back foot is in transverse tarsal & subtalar inversion.
Second is the hips. In this particular instance the hips are internally rotated because the leg is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the bone and is rotated inward towards the mid‐line of the body.
Third is the left knee. The knee is superior and proximal to the ankle. It is closer to the trunk and head on your body compared to the ankle.
Fourth is the right knee. The knee is in a slight flexion and rotated internally towards the mid‐line of the body. Pivoting the right foot in turn rotates the knee and hip. This is what gives you most of your power when hitting the softball.
Last, is the front foot. In proper technique your put most of your weight on your back foot and your front foot should be in plantar flexion, or you should be on your toes. Also if you look closely you can tell the back foot is in transverse tarsal & subtalar inversion.
Below are several examples of batting in motion.
One of the most important parts of your body in softball is your mid‐section. Even more important in hitting is your hips. By turning your hips and using your legs you get mass amounts of power and the ball will go farther. Notice on the video below the position of the players hips and how she turns them with each swing.
Pelvis
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The Pelvis plays an important role in softball. You can't have hips without a pelvis! The pelvis connects the backbone to the hipbones. The picture on the left is an x‐ray of a woman's pelvis. The pelvis is a irregular bone. This means it doesn't fit any of the other classifications. The function of this bone is for structural support of the body. It also it a place where muscles and ligaments can attach themselves and provides protection for the reproductive system. The pelvis also has an example of a symphysis joint. This type of joint is separated by a fibrocartilage pad that allows very slight movement between the bones.
The Defensive Position.
This is another key position in softball. Your knees are bent, your on your toes and you arm are out in front of you. In this position it is easiest to separate the pose by the saggital plane.
Right side
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First is shoulder. The scapula is in upward rotation. This means the shoulders are forward. They are also in abduction which means they are away from the body. The shoulder is also a ball and socket joint, or a enarthrodial joint. This is another very important part of the body in softball. It enables you to throw.
Second in the foot and ankle. During this pose you are required to be on your toes so you can move quickly in both directions. The ankle is in plantar flexion. The ankle contains a syndesmosis joint. It is a form of fibrous joint in which opposing surfaces that are relatively far apart are united by ligaments.
Second in the foot and ankle. During this pose you are required to be on your toes so you can move quickly in both directions. The ankle is in plantar flexion. The ankle contains a syndesmosis joint. It is a form of fibrous joint in which opposing surfaces that are relatively far apart are united by ligaments.
Left Side
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First is the hips. In the position the hips are in flexion and internal rotation.The hip also has enarthroidal joints.
Second is the elbow. This particular joint is a hing joint, or ginglymus joint. It has a wide range of motion, but only in one particular plane. The elbow is also in flexion during this pose.
Third is the wrist and hand. The hand contains athroidal joints that are gliding with two flat surfaces. Here the wrist is in a slight flexion. In action depending on whether or not you are catching the ball backhanded or regular you wrist could be in flexion or extension. Also the glove hand is usually in the supine position naturally.
Fourth is the knee. The patella is a sesmoidal bone. It is small, and embedded with a tendon. It also improves mechanical movements and provides an advantage.
Second is the elbow. This particular joint is a hing joint, or ginglymus joint. It has a wide range of motion, but only in one particular plane. The elbow is also in flexion during this pose.
Third is the wrist and hand. The hand contains athroidal joints that are gliding with two flat surfaces. Here the wrist is in a slight flexion. In action depending on whether or not you are catching the ball backhanded or regular you wrist could be in flexion or extension. Also the glove hand is usually in the supine position naturally.
Fourth is the knee. The patella is a sesmoidal bone. It is small, and embedded with a tendon. It also improves mechanical movements and provides an advantage.