#biomechanics#fastbowling#fielding#running#cricket#baseball

I am told I am a very good teacher. Let’s see if this makes you agree to this notion. Let’s delve into the biomechanics and how habits form with their repercussions.

Ques: What are biomechanics?
Biomechanics is the study of the structure, function, and motion of the mechanical aspects of biological systems at any level.

Allow me to help you understand this term better:

Improving the ‘structure’ in any action enhances ‘function’ by making it more swift/easy as per our anatomy, which, in turn, improves ‘motion’ (speed, technique, performance, etc.).

Take a look at the attached pictures in the post and find the dissimilarities between the two boys on display, just like how we did in school.

Ques: Looking at the two, can we call one wrong on the basis of biomechanics?
Ans: No. Both are right; however, they may be working on different musculature – ‘structure.’

Ques: What difference does their posture make?
Ans: Just as the definition of biomechanics explains, different structures lead to different ‘function.’

Ques: Ok. Structure is worked on differently, which leads to slightly different functionality. What’s next?
Ans: Just as in the definition, it will have an effect on ‘motion.’

However, correcting posture can be crucial to alleviate or prevent pain, enhance performance, and meet specific training requirements. So:

Ques: Should we strive to make it perfect?
Yes, if it can help a person get rid of pain or avoid future pain.
Yes, if it helps improve performance.
Yes, if it meets their training requirements.

Example:
The boy in blue has a tendency to hyperextend his knee. The same boy has a tendency not to leverage his lower back, perhaps because he is a fast bowler. Most bowlers have stopped leveraging their lower back. Sad! Because it’s free. It’s available. Use the damn thing!

In his case, it will be better for him not to hyperextend his knee during training. His super active popliteus muscle is making him hyperextend (by habit) and thereby slowly losing its grip on the knee. This will make his knee less stable over time, not to mention its effect on functionality and motion. Likewise, if he separates his lower back (like the other boy) from his glutes, it will stretch his thoracolumbar fascia, which will help him leverage his lower back.

Ques: Should we correct his posture further immediately/asap?


Firstly, the above is his corrected version. However we can correct it further, but slowly & creatively. Sometimes we have to find ways to cheat the mind to over ride its previous learnngs. His knee may look hyperextended in the above picture when compared to the other boy in the pictures. However, he is doing much better compared to his previous version. It takes time to change these automated anatomical habits. But he will come through. Everybody does, provided one knows how to read between these fine anatomical lines.

Do I think these things are important for his bowling?

Absolutely 100%.