Sports Coach Blog
Website UpdatesLevers
For your arm, leg or any body part to move the appropriate muscles and bones must work together as a series of levers. A lever comprises of three components -
- Fulcrum or pivot - the point about which the lever rotates
- Load - the force applied by the lever system
- Effort - the force applied by the user of the lever system
The way in which a lever will operate is dependent on the type of lever.
Classification of Levers
- Class 1 - The fulcrum lies between the effort and the load
- Class 2 - The fulcrum is at one end, the effort at the other end and the load lies between the effort and the fulcrum
- Class 3 - The fulcrum is at one end, the load at the other end and the effort lies between the load and the fulcrum
 Class 1 Lever |
 Class 2 Lever |
 Class 3 Lever |
Class 3 is the most common class of lever to be found in the human body.
Examples in strength training
- Class 1 - Seated dumbbell triceps extension
- Class 2 - Standing heel lift
- Class 3 - Seated biceps curl
 Class 1 Lever in the Body |
 Class 2 Lever in the Body |
 Class 3 Lever in the Body |
Page Reference
The reference for this page is:
- MACKENZIE, B. (2003) Levers [WWW] Available from: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/levers.htm [Accessed
Associated Pages
The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:
