Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Kinesiology and Biomechanics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During normal gait, which phase occurs when both feet are simultaneously in contact with the ground?
- Swing phase
- Mid-stance
- Double support phase (Correct answer)
- Terminal swing
Correct answer: Double support phase
Double support (double limb support) occurs twice per gait cycle when both feet briefly contact the ground simultaneously.
Question 2: Anterior pelvic tilt is associated with increased lumbar:
- Kyphosis
- Scoliosis
- Lordosis (Correct answer)
- Flexion
Correct answer: Lordosis
Anterior pelvic tilt tilts the pelvis forward, which increases the lumbar lordotic curve.
Question 3: Proprioceptors located in the muscle belly that detect changes in muscle length are called:
- Golgi tendon organs
- Ruffini endings
- Muscle spindles (Correct answer)
- Pacinian corpuscles
Correct answer: Muscle spindles
Muscle spindles (intrafusal fibers) are length-sensitive proprioceptors embedded within the muscle belly that trigger the stretch reflex.
Question 4: Which posture assessment finding indicates tight hip flexors?
- Posterior pelvic tilt and flat lumbar spine
- Anterior pelvic tilt and increased lumbar lordosis (Correct answer)
- Lateral pelvic tilt and hip drop
- Posterior pelvic tilt and thoracic kyphosis
Correct answer: Anterior pelvic tilt and increased lumbar lordosis
Tight hip flexors pull the anterior pelvis downward, creating anterior pelvic tilt and compensatory lumbar lordosis.
Question 5: The iliotibial (IT) band is a thickening of which fascial layer?
- Thoracolumbar fascia
- Deep cervical fascia
- Fascia lata (Correct answer)
- Plantar fascia
Correct answer: Fascia lata
The IT band is a lateral thickening of the fascia lata, the deep fascia of the thigh.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'reciprocal inhibition'?
- Both agonist and antagonist contract simultaneously
- Activation of the agonist causes reflex relaxation of the antagonist (Correct answer)
- Overstretching a muscle causes it to contract protectively
- Two muscles co-contract to stabilize a joint
Correct answer: Activation of the agonist causes reflex relaxation of the antagonist
Reciprocal inhibition is the neurological process where the agonist's contraction sends inhibitory signals to the antagonist, allowing smooth movement.
Question 7: The 'center of gravity' of the human body in the anatomical position is located approximately at:
- The umbilicus (navel)
- Anterior to the second sacral vertebra (Correct answer)
- At the xiphoid process
- At the greater trochanter level
Correct answer: Anterior to the second sacral vertebra
The body's center of gravity is typically located just anterior to S2 in the average adult, though it varies with body proportions.
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Kinesiology and Biomechanics 4
During normal gait, which phase occurs when both feet are simultaneously in contact with the ground?