Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Kinesiology
Domain 2: Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Kinesiology
This domain tests applied anatomy: joint motions in the correct plane, muscle actions, lever and moment-arm reasoning, and how apparatus resistance changes the demand. Questions often describe a position and ask which muscle lengthens, which joint moves, or why a cue changes load.
Core rules and concepts
- Use anatomical position and the three cardinal planes: sagittal (flexion/extension), frontal (abduction/adduction, lateral flexion), transverse (rotation, horizontal adduction).
- Identify the joint action first, then the mover. A muscle can act at more than one joint; Reformer footwork combines knee extension, hip extension, and ankle dorsiflexion.
- The core is a pressure-managed cylinder: diaphragm, transversus abdominis, pelvic floor, multifidus, and deeper spinal stabilizers, not the rectus abdominis alone.
- Springs are not constant resistance. Force rises as the spring lengthens, so load changes through range; moment arms also change with joint angle.
- Neutral spine is a range, not one rigid position. Imprint is a teaching option, not a universal standard.
Worked example
On a Reformer Footwork exercise, the client presses the bar away. Knee extension is produced by the quadriceps; hip extension by gluteus maximus and hamstrings; ankle dorsiflexion by tibialis anterior. As the carriage moves away, spring tension increases and the knee-extensor moment arm changes. Reasoning: if the client's knees drift together, the issue may be hip external rotator control or foot placement, not simply weak quads. Cue knee tracking over the second toe and adjust foot position before adding spring.
Traps that cost marks
- Naming a muscle as agonist when the question asks what is lengthening.
- Using core as a synonym for rectus abdominis.
- Assuming heavier springs are always harder; lighter springs demand more control in some exercises.
- Mixing planes or describing rotation as sagittal motion.