Long Bone

Long Bones are so named because they are longer than they are wide. They are generally found in the limbs of the body (femur, tibia, fibula, ulna, and radius). They are shaped for strength, enabling them to absorb and transfer the weight of the body.

A body skill that requires the strength and support from long bones is a balance, eg. An arabesque uses the tibia, fibula and femur of the supporting leg to sustain the balance.

Short Bones

Tend to be similar in width and length, and are found in the ankles and wrists, (carpal and tarsal bones). The compact structure of the bones gives them strength and allows weight transference. The carpals and tarsals allow complex movements in the ankle and wrist regions.

Short bones will be used in the preparation and the landing of an elevation (jump). They assist in the control of weight through the articulation of the feet.

Irregular Bones

Primarily found in the spine, the 26 vertebrae of the spine have irregularly shaped protrusions that interlock with each other and provide sites for muscle attachment. Irregular bones allow for transference of weight through the body. The irregular bones assist with the body skills such as body articulation, for example spinal rolls.

Flat Bones

Play a role in protecting the vital organs, and many flat bones that are found in the body are in the torso (sternum, ribs, and scapulae). These bones are key sites for the muscles that provide strength and force for limb movement.

A body skill that utilises the flat bones is turns. The stabilisation of the sternum, ribs and scapulae are needed in order to assist the arms to control the momentum and force in a turn.

Sesamoid Bones

Are small bones that develop in tendons, (tissue that connects muscle to bone.) The patella is a sesamoid bone that sits in the tendon of the quadriceps muscle and is attached to the tibia via the patella ligament. It plays an important role in the mechanics of weight transference and movement in the knee joint.

Many body skills such as locomotor movement, elevation, alignment, and falls rely on the mechanics of weight transference and movement through the knee joint.