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F
Kinesiology Dictionary
Please use this dictionary of professional kinesiology terms and definitions to help you learn. New terms and definitions will be added on a regular basis for you to learn from. I have decided to extend the dictionary to include terms and definitions from sciences that relate to and support being a kinesiologist or any other healthcare professional. Knowledge itself is power - use the dictionary to empower yourself. Please use the letters in blue below as links to get to the first letter of the term you are looking for. You will be transferred to another page containing those terms and definitions accordingly. Enjoy!
Term | Definition | Associated Field |
|---|---|---|
FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) | Max air exhaled after deep breath | Exercise Testing / Physiology |
Facilitation | Technique enhancing nerve or muscle activity | Motor Behavior / Exercise Physiology |
Fall risk | Likelihood of falling due to health or balance issues | Exercise Testing / Physical Therapy |
Fascia | Connective tissue surrounding muscles | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Fascicle | Bundle of muscle fibers | Anatomy / Exercise Physiology |
Fasciculation | Involuntary muscle twitch | Pathophysiology / Neuroscience |
Fast-twitch fiber | Muscle fiber for rapid, powerful movements | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Fasting glucose | Blood sugar after fasting | Nutrition / Pathophysiology |
Fat-free mass | Body mass excluding fat | Exercise Physiology / Nutrition |
Fat-soluble vitamin | Vitamin dissolvable in fat (A, D, E, K) | Nutrition / Biochemistry |
Fatigue | Decrease in muscle force or endurance | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Fatigue fracture | Stress fracture caused by repetitive stress | Sport Injury / Pathophysiology |
Fatty acid | Organic molecule found in fats | Nutrition / Biochemistry |
Feedback | Information used to adjust performance or behavior | Motor Behavior / Psychology |
Feedback inhibition | Process where product inhibits its own production | Biochemistry / Physiology |
Femoral artery | Main artery in the thigh | Anatomy / Physiology |
Femoral condyle | Rounded end of femur | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Femoral head | Ball-shaped upper end of femur | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Femoral neck | Narrow region below femoral head | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Femoral nerve | Major nerve supplying anterior thigh muscles | Anatomy / Neuroscience |
Femur | Thigh bone | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Fertilization | Fusion of sperm and egg | Biology / Genetics |
Fetal circulation | Blood flow pattern in fetus | Physiology / Anatomy |
Fetal heart rate | Heart rate of a fetus | Physiology / Exercise Testing |
Fever | Elevated body temperature | Pathophysiology / First Aid |
Fiber optic sensor | Sensor using light for measurement | Motion Analysis / Biomechanics |
Fiber type | Classification of muscle fibers (slow/fast) | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Fibromyalgia | Chronic pain disorder | Pathophysiology / Psychology |
Fibula | Smaller bone of lower leg | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Field sobriety test | Test to assess alcohol impairment | Psychology / First Aid |
Filtration | Movement of fluid through a membrane | Physiology / Biology |
Filum terminale | Fibrous extension of spinal cord | Anatomy / Neuroscience |
Fine motor skills | Small, precise movements | Motor Behavior / Psychology |
Finger extension | Straightening of finger joints | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Finger flexion | Bending of finger joints | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Fissure | Narrow opening in tissue | Anatomy / Medicine |
Fitness | Ability to perform physical activity | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Fixation | Stabilization of bone or joint | Orthopedics / Sport Injury |
Fixed interval schedule | Reinforcement after set time | Psychology / Motor Behavior |
Fixed ratio schedule | Reinforcement after set number of behaviors | Psychology / Motor Behavior |
Flame photometry | Technique to measure ions in solution | Chemistry / Biochemistry |
Flap (surgery) | Tissue moved to cover wound | Medicine / Pathophysiology |
Flexibility | Range of motion of a joint | Exercise Physiology / Biomechanics |
Flexion | Decreasing joint angle | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Flexor | Muscle causing flexion | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Flexor digitorum | Muscle flexing fingers | Anatomy / Exercise Physiology |
Flexor hallucis longus | Muscle flexing big toe | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Flight phase | Phase of gait when both feet are off the ground | Biomechanics / Motion Analysis |
Flow-mediated dilation | Blood vessel widening in response to flow | Physiology / Exercise Physiology |
Fluid balance | Regulation of body fluids | Physiology / Nutrition |
Fluid replacement | Rehydration during or after exercise | Nutrition / Exercise Physiology |
Fluid shear stress | Force of fluid on vessel walls | Biomechanics / Physiology |
Fluorescence | Emission of light by substance | Chemistry / Biophysics |
Fluoroscopy | Imaging using X-rays | Medicine / Biomechanics |
Flywheel training | Resistance training using flywheel device | Strength and Conditioning / Exercise Physiology |
Focus | Concentration on task or target | Psychology / Sport Psychology |
Folate | Vitamin B9 important for DNA synthesis | Nutrition / Biochemistry |
Foot orthosis | Device supporting foot structure | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Foot pronation | Inward rolling of foot during gait | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Foot strike | Part of foot contacting ground in gait | Biomechanics / Motion Analysis |
Foot supination | Outward rolling of foot during gait | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Foramen | Opening or hole in bone | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Force | Influence causing motion or deformation | Physics / Biomechanics |
Force couple | Muscles working together to produce movement | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Force-velocity relationship | Relationship between muscle force and contraction speed | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Forearm | Region between elbow and wrist | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Forearm pronation | Rotation of forearm so palm faces down | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Forearm supination | Rotation of forearm so palm faces up | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Forefoot | Front part of foot | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Forefoot strike | Landing on front of foot during running | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Forequarter | Shoulder and upper arm region | Anatomy / Biomechanics |
Form closure | Stability from joint shape and ligaments | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Formative assessment | Evaluation to guide learning | Psychology / Education |
Fosfomycin | Antibiotic | Pharmacology / Medicine |
Fracture | Break in bone | Sport Injury / First Aid |
Frontal plane | Vertical plane dividing body into front/back | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Functional asymmetry | Imbalance in strength or movement between sides | Biomechanics / Exercise Physiology |
Functional capacity | Ability to perform daily activities | Exercise Physiology / Rehabilitation |
Functional mobility | Ability to move independently | Exercise Physiology / Rehabilitation |
Functional movement | Movement pattern integrating strength, mobility, balance | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Functional overload | Training exceeding usual load to promote adaptation | Strength and Conditioning / Exercise Physiology |
Functional strength | Strength applied to real-life tasks | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Functional test | Assessment of ability to perform tasks | Exercise Testing / Rehabilitation |
Functional training | Training to improve daily or sport-specific tasks | Exercise Physiology / Strength and Conditioning |
Fundamental movement skills | Basic skills like running, jumping, throwing | Motor Behavior / Exercise Physiology |
Funnel plot | Graphical method to detect bias in studies | Sociology / Psychology |
Furosemide | Diuretic medication | Pharmacology / Medicine |
Fusiform muscle | Spindle-shaped muscle | Anatomy / Exercise Physiology |
Fusion (bone) | Joining bones together | Orthopedics / Pathophysiology |
Fusion protein | Protein created by combining two genes | Biochemistry / Genetics |
Future orientation | Planning and goal setting for future | Psychology / Sport Psychology |
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