Friday, December 21, 2018

A Brief Introduction to Kinesiology


A college student in South Carolina, Andrew Khoury graduated from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. Currently a senior at South Carolina's Charleston Southern University, Andrew Khoury is preparing to graduate with a bachelor's in kinesiology. 

Kinesiology is the study of human movement. Many theories comprising the discipline were pioneered in the early 1960s by Dr. George Goodheart, an American chiropractor, who originally applied his ideas to correct abnormal posture resulting in weakness of specific muscles or muscle groups. His work led to the field of applied kinesiology, which uses a method of muscle testing to identify and treat various issues in the body. 

Those who study kinesiology as undergraduate and graduate students focus more broadly on the ways in which exercise and physical activity can support overall health and wellness. Kinesiology students learn about both aerobic and anaerobic exercise as well as weight lifting and cardiovascular training. The study also covers general health topics related to anatomy, physiology, and psychomotor behavior. 

Once they complete their academic studies, kinesiologists can enter careers in various fields, including physical education, athletic coaching and training, and occupational or rehabilitative therapy. In addition to helping people manage and treat physical injuries and other medical conditions, the work of many kinesiologists focuses on preventing injury while helping to improve overall health and physical performance.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Charleston Battery Soccer Club Releases Initial 2019 Roster


An undergraduate student at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina, Andrew Khoury will soon complete a bachelor's degree program in kinesiology. Alongside his academic pursuits, Andrew Khoury serves as the setup manager for the Charleston Battery, a South Carolina professional soccer club that plays in the USL Championship. 

Ahead of 2019 regular season play, which will kick off in early March, the Charleston Battery has announced initial roster plans for what will be the club's 27th season. Battery fans will be glad to hear that Mike Anhaeuser's roster features 12 returning players from the 2018 squad, which made it to the playoffs and finished the regular season fourth overall in the USL Eastern Conference. 

Among the returning players are 2018 All-League selections Ataulla Guerra and Tah Brian Anunga as well as goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky. The projected 2019 roster also includes defenders Leland Archer and Taylor Mueller, midfielders Angelo Kelly and Kotaro Higashi, and forwards Ian Svantesson and Romario Piggot. 

Charleston Battery coaching staff will continue to add to the roster as ongoing negotiations and open trials are completed in early 2019. More information about the roster and 2019 schedule is available at www.charlestonbattery.com.

Friday, December 14, 2018

Gait-Related Biomechanics of the Foot, Knee, and Ankle


Andrew Khoury is a student at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina pursuing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. A specific focus of South Carolina’s Andrew Khoury is biomechanics, which involves understanding principles specific to various body systems, from the ankles to the upper limbs. 

The lower limbs present a complex system, with the foot and ankle alone made up of 33 joints and 26 bones. These are held together by in excess of 100 ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Together, they function as a rigid structure when it comes to bearing weight. They transition to acting as a flexible structure when uneven terrain is traversed or a jump is attempted.

Ankle and foot biomechanics are linked with gait, which defines how body segments work together to enable walking on two feet. One critical force at work in the knee is the Q angle, which centers on the patellofemoral joint. The vector created by the pull of the patellar tendon and quadriceps femoris muscle results in a lateral pull being placed on the patella. This allows a range of stable motion that enables the foot and ankle to move forward and take a supported step.

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Momentum and Related Principles in Biomechanics


Andrew Khoury has an extensive South Carolina soccer background that has included championship competition. An undergraduate student at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina, Andrew Khoury is majoring in kinesiology with a particular focus on biomechanics.

Involving the mechanics of how humans move, biomechanics allows an understanding of sports actions at the physiological level and how to prevent injuries. It also helps identify the most effective techniques for boosting sports performance, with analysis of the loads and stresses taken on by different parts of the body defining the safest way of performing specific movements and tasks. 

One aspect of this involves linear momentum, or the type of momentum that follows a straight line, as with a sprint on a track. Angular momentum tracks movements resulting from body segment rotations, with a classic example being the tennis open stance forehand. In this case, angular momentum provides significant power to the racquet, with the result being a transfer of this force at impact to the racquet’s linear momentum. 

Other concepts of biomechanics essential to improving movement techniques include center of gravity, balance, and static balance.

Monday, December 3, 2018

FIFA May Expand the World Cup to 48 Teams by 2022


A kinesiology major at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina, Andrew Khoury also serves as a setup manager for the Charleston Battery. Moreover, Andrew Khoury considers himself to be an avid fan of international soccer.

Depending on a March 2019 decision from FIFA, the 2022 World Cup may increase the number of teams participating in the tournament from 32 to 48. While the increase is already confirmed for 2026’s World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the expansion is a possibility for the 2022 contest to be held in Qatar.

One of the biggest challenges for expanding as early as 2022 is space. Approximately 11 times smaller than the state of New York, Qatar may have to share some of the new games with neighboring countries.

Although the expansion ultimately means more soccer for fans to enjoy and more teams getting a shot at glory, some people are less than thrilled about the change. Criticizing the move for making the tournament “too straightforward,” England’s national team manager Gareth Southgate worries that the expansion will sap the excitement from the earlier qualifying matches.