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Simple Biomechanics Typeit
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In human bodies, levers are used to create movement. They are made up of three components:
- – this is the point at which a lever is balanced, or where rotation occurs.
- – this is the point and direction of a force applied to the lever system.
- – this is the force acting against the effort.
-class levers have the fulcrum placed in the middle, between the effort and resistance. An example of this lever system is a header in football, where the resistance is the weight of the ball and the head, the fulcrum is located at the joint in the neck, and the effort is the contraction of the muscles in the neck, pulling the head forwards and downwards to meet the ball.
-class lever systems have the fulcrum at one end of the lever, the effort at the opposite end of the lever, and the resistance in-between. When someone performs plantar flexion against the ground (i.e. goes on their tiptoes), they are using this class of lever system. The fulcrum is located at the ball of the foot, with the resistance being the mass of the body pulling downwards, due to gravity. The effort comes from the muscle pulling on the bones it attaches to at the heel, via the Achilles tendon. This lever system can move a large load with a relatively small amount of .
-class lever systems have the fulcrum at one end of the lever, the resistance at the opposite end of the lever, and the effort in the middle. When someone flexes at the elbow to perform a biceps curl, they are using this class of lever system. The fulcrum is at the joint; the resistance is located at the hand/weight; and the effort originates at the muscle, lifting the lower arm. Movements require large amounts of effort.