Engineering Approaches to

Standing

Biomechanics of Standing
Postural muscles
Act predominantly to sustain your
posture in the gravity field.
Contain mostly slow-twitch muscle
fibres
Have a greater capacity for
sustained work.
They are prone to hyperactivity.
They tend to shorten in response to
over-use, under-use or trauma

Phasic muscles
Contain mostly fast-twitch muscle
fibres
More suited to movement.
They are prone to inhibition.
They are also more easily fatiguable.
They tend to lengthen and weaken in
response to these types of stimuli

Do you know?
What is Difference between two types of
muscles?
Which of them are stronger?

Postural v/s Phasic

Morphological changes are not very marked

Postural muscles are stronger ,can generate more force
Ratio of force production in posture to phasic is 3:2
Exercise and training can change this ratio up to 5:1

Imbalance Between Postural and

Phasic muscles

Musculo-skeletal imbalance
Joint instability
Pain
Poor posture

Distal/Lower cross syndrome

joint dysfunction L4-L5 and L5-S1 segments
SI joint, and hip joint.
Postural Changes
Anterior pelvic tilt,
Increased lumbar lordosis,
lateral lumbar shift,
lateral leg rotation
knee hyperextension

Upper/Proximal Crossed Syndrome

joint dysfunction
Atlanto occipital joint,
C4-C5 segment,
Cervicothoracic joint,
Glenohumeral joint,
T4-T5 segment
Postural Changes
Forward head posture
Increased cervical lordosis
Thoracic kyphosis
Elevated and protracted shoulders
Rotation or abduction
Winging of the scapulae

FORCES ACTING ON FOOT

The Ankle and Foot Joints

Function of the foot

Provide a stable platform
Generate propulsion
Absorb shock

Bones

Ankle + foot = 28 bones

foot = 26 bones
Leg: tibia, fibula
Foot:
Tarsals (7): talus, calcaneus, navicular, cuboid, and
cuneiforms (3)

Metatarsals (5)
Phalanges (14)

Joints
Tibiofibular:
articulation between tibia and fibula
amphiarthrodial joint

Ankle joint
Talocrural
articulation between talus and tibia; talus and
fibula
classified as a ginglymus

Joints
Subtalar joint
articulation between
talus and calcaneus
classified as arthrodial
(gliding) joint

Transverse tarsal joint

articulation between
talus, navicular,
calcaneus and cuboid
bones
classified as arthrodial
joint

Joints
Tarsometatarsal
tarsal bones and metatarsal
classified as arthrodial (gliding)
joints

Metatarsophalangeal
metatarsals and phalanges
classified as condyloid

Interphalangeal joints
(proximal and distal)
phalangeal bones
ginglymus

Arches of the foot

Medial longitudinal arch
calcaneus, talus, navicular,
cuneiforms (3), and medial
metatarsals (3).

Lateral longitudinal arch

calcanueus, cuboid, lateral
metatarsals (4 & 5)

Transverse arch
across metatarsals

Classifying Arch Type

Pes Planus: Flat foot
Pes Cavus: High Arch
Normal

Movements
Ankle joint
dorsiflexion: raising the toes
plantarflexion: point the toes

Subtalar & Transverse tarsal joints

Calcaneal inversion and eversion

Interphalangeal joints
flexion
extension

Movements
Supination
inversion
plantar flexion
adduction

Pronation
eversion
dorsiflexion
abduction

GRF & Centre of Pressure

Point of application of resultant force

on feet is called centre of pressure

Centre of pressure may change with

swaying

COP is located in front of ankle axis

In standing calf muscles are always

active

Stability of foot
Heel of a shoe act as shock
absorber
Sole must be thin to give
good flexibility
Angle of inclination
determines the weight that a
person loads on fore foot
When height of heel is same,
size of foot determines the
weight

Do you know?
High heels can cause postural problems
that can lead muscle imbalance and pain
What is the maximum height of heel that
can be wore?

Stability of foot
A women with small foot if
wears high heel,the angle of
inclination may increase upto
40*
This angle should be 1014*,which means height of heel
should be maximum 3-4 cm

Claping of foot during walking

Stability of foot
There points at which the
weight acts
Two points anteriorly give
stability
One point posteriorly is
responsible for
unstability

Reaching

In the workplaces people

often seek support for
pelvis or upper legs by
using the edge of table or
bench

Biomechanics of Pelvis

Spine can bear compression forces

because they are in longitudinal
axis of spine

SI joint surfaces are parallel to

these forces so they are prone to
shear forces

These forces are compensated by

compressive action of muscles
Side support of ligaments

Stability of SI joint
Muscle forces that cross
SI joint can produce
compression
Ligaments and fascia
perform same function
This protection of lateral
movement of pelvis give
stability to SI joint

Stability of SI joint
INNER GROUP
Deep muscles (TA,diaphragm,pelvic floor
,multifidus)
OUTER GROUP
Deep longitudinal system(erector
system
spinae,thoracolumbar fascia,bicep
femoris)
Superior posterior oblique
system(LD,gluteus
maximus)
system
Anterior oblique system(interal
external
system
obliques,hip adductors)
Lateral system (gluteus medius and
minimus,adductors)