Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology

Karen Clippinger, MSPE, received her master's degree in exercise science from the University of Washington in 1984. She is a professor emerita at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), where she taught functional anatomy for dance and dance science courses. She spearheaded the development of the bachelor's degree in dance (option in dance science). Outside of CSULB, she taught anatomy or kinesiology for dancer credit courses at University of Calgary (2000), Scripps College (1999), and UCLA (1995-1998).Prior to her academic career, Clippinger worked as a clinical kinesiologist for 19 years, including at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she helped develop the medical program for performing artists. She has worked with hundreds of dancers and performers, including members of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group, Bill Evans and Company, Alwin Nikolais, and Cirque du Soleil. Clippinger also consulted for the U.S. Weightlifting Federation, U.S. Race Walking Team, California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and the Danish Wounded Warriors Project.Clippinger is a renowned international presenter who has given more than 450 presentations related to kinesiological considerations in Pilates, dance, and fitness. Her many dance presentations include faculty in-services for Cornish College of the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet as well as presentations for dance students at the American Dance Festival, Texas A&M, University of Calgary, and Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers.Clippinger has written numerous articles, three chapters, and the second edition of this text. She coauthored Pilates Anatomy with Rael Isacowitz. She served as a founding coeditor in chief of Journal of Dance Medicine and Science (1996-2005) and in 2021 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.

• Chapter 1. Fundamental Anatomical Terms for Understanding MovementPositional and Directional TermsRotary Motion, Anatomical Planes, and AxesJoint Movement TermsSummaryChapter 2. The Skeletal System and Its MovementsBone Composition and StructureThe Human SkeletonClassification and Structure of JointsJoint Mechanics in Functional MovementSummaryChapter 3. The Muscular System and Its MovementsSkeletal Muscle PropertiesMicroscopic Structure of a Muscle Fiber and Muscle ContractionMuscle ArchitectureMuscle Attachments to BoneContribution of Connective Tissue to Muscle BehaviorMuscles, Levers, and Rotary MotionTypes of Muscle Contraction and TorqueMuscular Considerations in Functional MovementMuscles and Movement AnalysisSummaryChapter 4. The SpineBones and Bony Landmarks of the SpineJoint Structure and Movements of the Vertebral ColumnDescription and Functions of Individual Muscles of the SpineMuscular Analysis of Spinal MovementsIdeal Spinal Alignment and Common DeviationsSpinal MechanicsSpecial Considerations for the Spine in DanceSpine Injuries in DancersSummaryChapter 5. The Pelvic Girdle and Hip JointBones and Bony Landmarks of the Hip RegionJoint Structure and Movements of the Pelvic GirdleJoint Structure and Movements of the HipDescription and Functions of Individual Hip MusclesMuscular Analysis of Hip MovementsAlignment and Common Deviations of the Hip RegionPelvic and Hip MechanicsSpecial Considerations for the Hip Region in DanceHip Injuries in DancersSummaryChapter 6. The Knee and Patellofemoral JointsBones and Bony Landmarks of the Knee RegionJoint Structure and Movements of the KneeDescription and Functions of Individual Knee MusclesMuscular Analysis of Knee MovementsAlignment and Common Deviations of the KneeKnee MechanicsStructure and Movements of the Patellofemoral JointPatellofemoral Alignment and the Q AnglePatellofemoral Mechanics and Compression ForcesSpecial Considerations for the Knee Region in DanceKnee Injuries in DancersSummaryChapter 7. The Ankle and FootBones and Bony Landmarks of the Ankle and FootJoint Structure and Movements of the Ankle and FootDescription and Functions of Individual Ankle–Foot MusclesMuscular Analysis of Ankle–Foot MovementsAlignment and Common Deviations of the Ankle–FootAnkle–Foot MechanicsSpecial Considerations for the Ankle and Foot in DanceAnkle and Foot Injuries in DancersSummaryChapter 8. The Upper ExtremityBones and Bony Landmarks of the Shoulder ComplexJoint Structure and Movements of the Shoulder GirdleJoint Structure and Movements of the ShoulderDescription and Functions of Individual Muscles of the Shoulder ComplexMuscular Analysis of Movements of the Shoulder ComplexAlignment and Common Deviations of the Shoulder ComplexMechanics of the Shoulder ComplexBones, Joint Structure, and Movements of the Elbow JointDescription and Functions of Selected Individual Elbow MusclesMuscular Analysis of Elbow MovementsAlignment and Common Deviations of the ElbowBones, Joint Structure, Movements, and Muscles of Selected Other Upper Extremity JointsSpecial Considerations for the Upper Extremity in DanceUpper Extremity Injuries in DancersSummaryChapter 9. Summary and ApplicationsStructure, Alignment, and Mechanics of Key JointsKey Muscles and Their MovementsSample Conditioning ExercisesObservation and Corrective Measures for Key Alignment and Technique ProblemsAnatomical Movement Analysis Schema for Whole-Body MovementsSample Anatomical Movement Analysis with Research SupplementsDance Movement CuesSummary