Applying Moisturizer in terms of Biomechanics: Activity Analysis

    As a woman in my (now) mid 20’s, I have been starting to realize how important skin care is! Did you know fine lines on your face start to form at the age of 25? Well, I will be trying to avoid that and do all I can to keep my skin young and firm. Lately, I have been following a skincare routine and I cannot leave the house without my daily moisturizer. As I started my biomechanics course, I started to think a bit more “mechanically” about how my body moves. Every day when I put my moisturizer on my face I start to think, how is my body really moving with this action? Let’s think about it. The main joint that is really working as I am applying moisturizer on my face is my elbow as I am starting with both arms by my side at a neutral elbow extension position and then ending the position as I bend my elbow, or flex my elbow, in order to reach my face. The movement of flexion and extension occur in the sagittal plane and on the frontal axis. In terms of osteokinematics, meaning the joint movement you can physically see, the elbow is in extension and flexion in an open kinematic chain. In terms of arthrokinematics, meaning the joint movement you cannot see from the outside, the moving ulna is the concave segment since the trochlear notch is rolling and gliding anteriorly on the convex segment of the trochlea on the humerus The primary muscle mover for applying moisturizer on my face would be the biceps brachii as it performs as a concentric contraction in flexion as the muscle becomes shorter when reaching my face. Next time you apply moisturizer to your face, think about the kinematics of your movements and see if you start to think “mechanically."