Understanding Human Movement: Active vs. Passive & Coordination

Understanding Human Movement

What Distinguishes Active Movement?

Active movements are voluntary actions produced by our internal forces (muscles) acting against an external force. They can be subdivided into:

• Free movement (no contest)
• Resisted movement (opposed by an external force)
• Helped movement (supported by an external force, such as a partner)
• Assisted-resisted movement (with both support and opposition)

Passive Movements

Passive movements are produced by an external force during muscular inactivity. This includes forced movement (something or someone causes the movement) or when voluntarily reducing internal forces to allow movement (movements produced by relaxation, such as when we lie down and relax our legs, and our feet fall out).

Systems Involved in Movement

The systems involved include the locomotor system, nervous system, and circulatory and digestive systems.

Improving Movement Systems

Improving these systems allows for:

• More quantitative aspects in the movement (more strength, more endurance, etc.)
• More qualitative aspects in the movement (better coordination, more dynamic movement, etc.)
• More perceptive awareness of the movement (better alignment in a confined space)

Mechanical Analysis of Motion

We are interested in how many joints act in the same movement and how they do so.

Planes and Body Axes

Axes: Lines on which no movement occurs.

Planes: Surfaces where movement occurs.

Coordination Explained

Coordination is a key capability for smooth and effective movement. It involves the neural control of different muscle groups to synchronize and perform an action at the right time and with good control. When you move with ease and control, the timing and intensity are well-coordinated. Improper coordination results in clumsy and ineffective gestures or movements.

Types of Coordination

General Dynamic Coordination

This is present in all motor activity (e.g., running). It is the general ability to perform basic motor actions, involving a large number of muscle groups.

Visual-Motor Coordination (Segmental)

This is the kind of coordination that exists in a manual or body movement, which responds to a visual stimulus and adapts positively to it.

• Dynamic-Manual or Hand-Eye Coordination: This type of coordination allows for precise hand movements, enabling harmonious execution.
• Dynamic-Pedic or Oculo-Pedic Coordination: Refers to the correct, harmonious, and accurate use of the feet with all types of actions.

Factors Necessary for Well-Coordinated Movement

Requires adequate muscle action, effective muscle contraction, and a good fit for the movement.

What Determines Coordination?

NERVOUS SYSTEM: Through it, we receive information from the internal and external environment, controlling all actions that determine human behavior. The perception of stimuli initiates the motor act. This perceptual information reaches the higher nerve centers, which prepare the appropriate motor response to the information received.

Special importance for the development of this quality is driving the maturation of the CNS (Central Nervous System). For this reason, children acquire greater mastery of their body, hands, and feet in the manipulation of objects as they grow.

MUSCULAR SYSTEM: Muscle is the final link in the chain drive. The arrival of the stimulus by the PNS (peripheral nervous system) and the response of the muscle fiber to contract is the purpose of motor planning. In adolescence, hormonal changes and rapid bone growth of the extremities can affect coordination between muscle groups.

LEARNING: A good global learning experience is essential to 11-12 years, and can acquire a variety of motor skills later applied to many movements and actions. The child acquires new knowledge and experience testing the best way to perform the movements.