Kinesiology Glossary

25 terms

My field of study is kinesiology. It is a science of human movement who focus on how every part of the human body work together. A glossary can be important to simplified very complicated terms use in kinesiology but also in physiotherapy and when you are a trainer. Also, these people who all work together can communicate with the same words, and it makes this easier for them.

adaptive plasticity
Ability of an individual to change its phenotype or physiology in response to changes in environmental conditions in a way that maintains the organism’s development, form, function, and so its ability to contribute to the next generation.
aerobic
Relating to or denoting exercises that improves or is intended to improve the efficiency of the body's cardiovascular system in absorbing and transporting oxygen.
agonist
A muscle whose contraction moves a part of the body directly.
anaerobic
Relating to or denoting exercises that does not improve the efficiency of the body's cardiovascular system in absorbing and transporting oxygen.
anatomy
Scientific study of the body and how its parts are arranged.
anterior
Nearer the front, especially situated in the front of the body or nearer to the head.
biarticulate
A muscle that crosses two joints.
biomechanics
The study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms.
circumduction
Movement of the limb, hand, or fingers in a circular pattern, using the sequential combination of a flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction motions.
concentric
When the total length of the muscle shortens as tension is produced.
depression
Downward movement of the scapula or mandible.
electrophysiology
Branch of physiology that deals with the electrical phenomena associated with nervous and other bodily activity.
hypertrophy
The enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells.
inversion
The movement of the sole towards the median plane – so that the sole faces in a medial direction.
medial
Toward the middle or center.
motor redundancy
A state in which several combinations of elements can be used to perform a certain motor task.
neuromuscular
Relating to both nerves and muscles.
neuroplasticity
The ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury.
orthopedic
Relating to the branch of medicine dealing with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles.injury.
pathology
The science of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.
proximal
Nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment to the body.
rehabilitation
A set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment.
stimuli
Event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue.
synergist
Assists the agonist muscle or “primary mover” for a specific action at a joint.
vO2 max
The maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise.