Gravity

MECHANICAL PRINCIPLES
Syeda Amna Iqbal

BSPT, MSPT, DPT
Lecturer Kinesiology
Learning Objectives:
1. Define center of gravity, and explain the basis for its

location in the human body
2. Estimate the location of the center of gravity of

individuals in any position
3. Factors affecting the location of COG
4. Understand line of gravity and base of support and there

relation to each other
5. Clinical applications of COG, LOG & BOS

What Is Gravity
Definition
• Gravity is the force by which all bodies are

attracted to the earth
• Constant downward force
• Acting at the center of a body segment
• External force (acting outside the body)

•The force of gravity acts conitnuously
upon the human body
•The strength of gravity depends on the

mass of object
• The farther you get from the earth, the less you are
affected by its gravity
• When dropped, all objects fall to earth at a constant

rate
• The lack of mechanical stress on cells from
gravity
> Decrease tension in the cell membrane
> Affect the expression of key proteins and

genes
> Results in muscle atrophy

EFFECTS
• On earth, gravity helps • After 10 days of
to regulate blood flow weightlessness,
by pulling down towards 3.2% of each bone’s
our lower extremities
calcium is lost
• can leads to fracture

• Our body works against
to ensure that blood is • This bone loss leads
pumped to the rest of to rise in Ca level in
our vital systems
blood, kidney stones
EFFECTS
• Effects of gravity can be counterbalanced,
when a force equal and opposite to it is employed
 i.e. buoyancy of water, or an isometric muscular
contraction
• Maintain our muscle mass, the earths pull put stress on

our skeletal system which helps to keep it sturdy
• Gravity is opposed by a force which is greater, movement

will occur in the direction of that force
For example:
•Standing position > heels can be raised

from ground by the contraction of the calf
muscles, working in opposition to the
resistance of gravity > co-contraction
exceeds the force of gravity
•Heels will remains raise > as force of
muscles contraction = gravity
•The heels will lowered to the ground

by the action of gravity is m/s relaxed
• In erect position, balance is maintained
by the integrated contraction of many
muscle, called anti gravity muscle
• True relaxation occurs as long as no

muscle work required against the gravity
Gravitational Force
Definition: The force of attraction between

two masses
For example:
•The Earth is gravitational attracted to the Sun
•The Moon is gravitational attracted to the
Earth
•You are gravitational attracted to the Earth
WHAT IS CENTRE OF GRAVITY
•The centre of gravity (COG) of a rigid

body is the point through which the
earth attraction effectively acts
whatever the position of the body
• i.e. The point through which the line of

action of the weight acts
•The Imaginary “balance
point” of the body
•The point at which all of

the body’s mass (weight) is
equally balanced
•The point where all forces

acting on the body equal
zero
Location of COG
•In case square block or cylinder in

which the mass is symmetrically
distributed, the points is at the center
of the object
•If the distribution of mass is
asymmetrical, as in limbs of human
body, the COG will be nearer to the
larger and heavier end
• In upright standing (in
the average body) the
COG is a point on the
midline, just anterior
to second sacral
vertebrae at 55% of
body height.
CHANGE IN CENTRE OF GRAVITY
• A human's centre of gravity can change as
he takes on different positions.
• In many other objects, it's a fixed location
• The location of the COG remains fixed as long as the
body does not change shape
• If an object’s shape or position changes, the location
of the COG changes
• As one changes the relationship of the body
segments to each other, the COG may even be
located outside the body
Factors affecting location of COG
• Age
• Gender
• Addition of weight
• Subtraction of weight
Age
• Age affects the location of COG because it
affects body part’s mass proportion
• In newborn, the upper part of the body is

heavier than the lower part the COG is higher
than in adults
• With advanced age, the COG becomes lower

Gender
• The COG is higher in males than in females because of
the muscular distribution (the upper body is heavier
than lower body)
• The female pelvis is wider and heavier than the male

pelvis……..so????
3) Addition of weight
• If a person carries a backpack  the COG will
move backward  as a compensatory mechanism,
the person will move his trunk forward to prevent
falling.
• If a person carries weight in front of his

body........???
4) Subtraction of weight
• In amputation, the COG

moves away from the
amputated limb towards
the healthy side
• E.g. in case of
amputated left leg: the
GOG will move upward
& toward the right side
• When making an artificial limb, the weight of the
artificial limb should be equal to the weight of the
healthy limb (avoid abnormal distribution of the
segments weight)
What is line of gravity
•Line of Gravity is
a vertical line
projecting
downwards
from the center
of gravity
Line of gravity
In the upright position, the line
of gravity normally passes
through the :
Body of second sacral
vertebrae
Vertex
Point between feet, level with
the transverse tarsal joints
• Mid of the cervical
vertebrae
• Front of the thoracic
vertebrae
• Mid of the lumbar
vertebrae
• Posterior to hip
• Anterior to knee and
ankle
What is Base Of Support
Definition
•The supporting area
beneath the body
•Includes the points of

contact with the
supporting surface and
the area between
them
•These points may be body parts (such
as feet), or extensions of body parts
(such as crutches or other walking aids
• In the lying position, the posterior aspect
is BOS
•In standing, as wide as feet and as long as

the ditanse between their outer borders
•COG must remain within the base of
support in order to maintain stability
and in equilibrium
•Stability easier with larger base of

support
• To maintain equilibrium, line of gravity must remain
within its base of support
Clinical applications
•If we bend to pick up a child or a box, the
knees should be bent and the trunk flexed
to move the COG down and over the feet
•Walking aids, such as canes and crutches,

increase the size of the base of support and
therefore allow more swaying of the body
without falling

Gravity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gravity

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gravity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MECHANICAL PRINCIPLES

Syeda Amna Iqbal

1. Define center of gravity, and explain the basis for its

2. Estimate the location of the center of gravity of

3. Factors affecting the location of COG

4. Understand line of gravity and base of support and there

5. Clinical applications of COG, LOG & BOS

• Gravity is the force by which all bodies are

• Constant downward force

• Acting at the center of a body segment

• External force (acting outside the body)

•The strength of gravity depends on the

• When dropped, all objects fall to earth at a constant

> Affect the expression of key proteins and

> Results in muscle atrophy

• can leads to fracture

• Maintain our muscle mass, the earths pull put stress on

• Gravity is opposed by a force which is greater, movement

•Standing position > heels can be raised

•The heels will lowered to the ground

• True relaxation occurs as long as no

Definition: The force of attraction between

•The centre of gravity (COG) of a rigid

• i.e. The point through which the line of

•The point at which all of

•The point where all forces

•In case square block or cylinder in

• In newborn, the upper part of the body is

• With advanced age, the COG becomes lower

• The female pelvis is wider and heavier than the male

• If a person carries weight in front of his

• In amputation, the COG

•Includes the points of

•In standing, as wide as feet and as long as

•Stability easier with larger base of

•Walking aids, such as canes and crutches,

You might also like