CCSP Clinical Biomechanics in Sports 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a running gait cycle, which phase is associated with the greatest ground reaction force?
- Swing phase
- Initial contact (heel strike) (Correct answer)
- Midstance
- Terminal stance
Correct answer: Initial contact (heel strike)
Initial contact produces the first peak ground reaction force, often 1.5–2× body weight during running.
Question 2: The Q-angle is formed between the line of pull of the quadriceps and the patellar tendon; an elevated Q-angle in female athletes increases risk of:
- Medial meniscus tears
- ACL injury and patellofemoral pain syndrome (Correct answer)
- Lateral ankle sprains
- Iliotibial band syndrome
Correct answer: ACL injury and patellofemoral pain syndrome
A wider Q-angle increases valgus stress at the knee, predisposing athletes to ACL injury and patellofemoral tracking problems.
Question 3: Which term describes the tendency of a joint to return to its resting position after being displaced, related to passive soft-tissue stiffness?
- Laxity (Correct answer)
- Stiffness
- Neuromuscular stability
- Creep
Correct answer: Laxity
Laxity refers to the amount of passive joint displacement possible; high laxity means the joint moves far before restraint builds.
Question 4: A gymnast performs a back handspring. The wrist is loaded in which primary direction during the push-off phase?
- Dorsiflexion and axial compression (Correct answer)
- Palmar flexion and distraction
- Ulnar deviation and shear
- Radial deviation and torsion
Correct answer: Dorsiflexion and axial compression
During push-off the wrist bears compressive load while positioned in dorsiflexion, stressing the distal radius and scaphoid.
Question 5: The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) improves power output primarily because:
- Elastic energy stored in tendons is released during the concentric phase (Correct answer)
- Motor unit recruitment is suppressed during the eccentric phase
- Muscle fiber length decreases throughout the cycle
- Type I fibers convert to Type IIx during repeated loading
Correct answer: Elastic energy stored in tendons is released during the concentric phase
Tendons and series elastic components store elastic potential energy during the eccentric (pre-stretch) phase and release it in the subsequent concentric contraction.
Question 6: Center of mass (COM) displacement in the vertical plane is greatest during which locomotion pattern?
- Walking (Correct answer)
- Jogging
- Sprinting
- Cycling
Correct answer: Walking
During walking the COM follows an inverted-pendulum arc, rising at midstance, resulting in greater vertical displacement than running.
Question 7: Tibial internal rotation during knee flexion is coupled with which motion at the subtalar joint?
- Supination
- Pronation (Correct answer)
- Inversion
- Abduction
Correct answer: Pronation
Tibial internal rotation is mechanically coupled to subtalar pronation (calcaneal eversion) through the transverse tarsal joint linkage.
CCSP Clinical Biomechanics in Sports 2
During a running gait cycle, which phase is associated with the greatest ground reaction force?