Why? The Science of Athletics

HUMAN MECHANISM 93 the foot of another athlete may be as shown in Fig. 7, IB, when the capacity for rapid movement may be anticipated. Again, various types of articulation of the thigh and leg at the J1 j_J knee will be found. Three variations within the range of the normal are shown in Fig 8, A, B and c. When the heels of a well-built adult I A are placed together with the feet turned out to form an angle of 45 IB FIG. 7 degrees the knees should not touch one another and day– light should show between the joints. Many mediocre athletes, however, show this defect when placed in the position indicated. A B c In the case of the female of the species it is natural for the thighs and knees to assume the stance shown in Fig. g, on account of her wider hips and the way in which her lower limbs are at– tached to her trunk. FIG. 8 The thigh and leg, articu– lated at the knee, are set in such a way that a slightly obtuse angle is formed on the outer side of the limb, but when the arches are allowed to drop, and the athlete thereby becomes flat-footed, this angle is made less obtuse. When this happens a strain is placed upon the knee joint .as a whole, while an overstrain is imposed upon the inner supports of the joint. Fig. roA shows the obtuse angle just referred to, while 1OB shows how the strain is imposed when the angle - at the point of articulation of the thigh and leg is made less obtuse. FIG. 9 The bones of our body act as levers, but, like crowbars,