Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Kinesiology and Biomechanics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Movement in the sagittal plane occurs around which axis?
- Vertical (longitudinal) axis
- Frontal (coronal) axis (Correct answer)
- Sagittal (anteroposterior) axis
- Diagonal axis
Correct answer: Frontal (coronal) axis
Sagittal plane movements (flexion/extension) rotate around the frontal (mediolateral) axis.
Question 2: In a closed kinetic chain exercise, what is true about the distal segment?
- It moves freely in space
- It is fixed or in contact with a surface (Correct answer)
- It is always non-weight-bearing
- It produces no muscle activation
Correct answer: It is fixed or in contact with a surface
In a closed kinetic chain, the distal segment is fixed (e.g., foot on the ground), causing proximal segments to move.
Question 3: Which connective tissue structure connects muscle to bone?
- Ligament
- Tendon (Correct answer)
- Fascia
- Cartilage
Correct answer: Tendon
Tendons are dense connective tissue structures that transmit muscular force to bone.
Question 4: The term 'agonist' in kinesiology refers to:
- A muscle that opposes the primary movement
- The muscle primarily responsible for producing a movement (Correct answer)
- A muscle that stabilizes the origin of the prime mover
- A muscle that reverses a movement
Correct answer: The muscle primarily responsible for producing a movement
The agonist (prime mover) is the muscle chiefly responsible for producing a specific movement.
Question 5: Pronation of the forearm involves which movement?
- The palm rotating to face upward
- The palm rotating to face downward (Correct answer)
- The forearm flexing at the elbow
- The wrist moving into radial deviation
Correct answer: The palm rotating to face downward
Pronation rotates the radius over the ulna so the palm faces posteriorly (downward in anatomical position).
Question 6: Which muscle is the primary hip extensor during activities like climbing stairs?
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus maximus (Correct answer)
- Tensor fasciae latae
- Piriformis
Correct answer: Gluteus maximus
The gluteus maximus is the largest and most powerful hip extensor, especially active during loaded or resisted movements.
Question 7: What does the term 'force couple' describe in biomechanics?
- Two forces acting in the same direction to produce linear motion
- Two equal and opposite forces acting on different points to produce rotation (Correct answer)
- A single force that is split into two components
- The ratio of effort to load in a lever system
Correct answer: Two equal and opposite forces acting on different points to produce rotation
A force couple consists of two equal, parallel, and opposite forces that create pure rotation without translation, common in scapular mechanics.
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Kinesiology and Biomechanics 3
Movement in the sagittal plane occurs around which axis?