Movement Analysis

Detailed analysis of movement is a complex activity requiring sophisticated equipment. However, the fundamental analysis of motion can be done visually and should involve the following:

• A description of the actual actions which occur at the joints involved.
• The plane(s) in which the movement occurs.
• The muscles produce the movement.
• The function of the muscles involved (agonists, antagonists, synergists & fixators).
• The type of contraction (isotonic - concentric or eccentric, isometric).
• The range of the muscle action (inner, middle, outer).

Analysis of Sprinting

The running leg action occurs in a sagittal plane about a frontal axis and involves the hip, knee and ankle joints.

The hip's bones are the femur and pelvic girdle, which form a ball and socket joint. The knee bones involved are the femur and tibia, which form a hinge joint. The ankle bones are the tibia and calcaneus, which form a modified joint.

Each of these joints produces two actions, one when the leg is in contact with the ground (driving phase) and one when the leg is not in contact with the ground (recovery phase).

Driving Phase

Joints involved	Action	Agonist Muscle
Hip	Extension & hyperextension	Gluteal muscles (gluteus maximus and gluteus minimus) and Hamstrings (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus)
Knee	Extension	Quadriceps group of muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and vastus intermedialis)
Ankle	Plantar flexion	Gastrocnemius

Recovery phase

Joints involved	Action	Agonist Muscle
Hip	Flexion	Iliopsoas
Knee	Flexion	Hamstrings (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus)
Ankle	Dorsiflexion	Tibialis anterior

Analysis of Throwing

Throwing comprises two phases, the preparatory phase and the throwing phase. Most actions are rotational in the transverse plane and longitudinal axis and the two joints primarily involved are the elbow and shoulder. The elbow is a hinge joint formed by the humerus and ulna. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint formed between the humerus and the scapula. Note: The javelin is incorrectly held. See the Javelin section for more details.

Preparatory phase

Joints involved	Articulating bones	Action	Agonist Muscle
Shoulder	Humerus & scapula	Horizontal hyperextension	Posterior deltoids and latissimus dorsi
Elbow	Humerus & ulna	Extension	Triceps brachii

Throwing phase

Joints involved	Articulating bones	Action	Agonist Muscle
Shoulder	Humerus & scapula	Horizontal flexion	Anterior deltoids and Pectoralis major
Elbow	Humerus & ulna	Flexion	Biceps brachii

Analysis of racket strokes

There are two phases to striking a ball with a racket, the preparatory phase and the striking phase. Most actions are rotational in the transverse plane, and longitudinal axis and the three joints concerned are the wrist, elbow and shoulder. The elbow is a hinge joint formed by the humerus and ulna. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint formed between the humerus and the scapula. The wrist forms a condyloid joint between the ulna and carpal bones.

Preparatory Phase

Joints involved	Articulating bones	Action	Agonist Muscle
Wrist	Ulna & carpal Radius &ulna	Supination	Supinator
Elbow	Humerus & ulna	Extension	Triceps brachii
Shoulder	Humerus & scapula	Horizontal hyperextension	Posterior deltoid and latissimus dorsi

Striking Phase

Joints involved	Articulating bones	Action	Agonist Muscle
Wrist	Ulna & carpal Radius & ulna	Pronation	Pronator teres
Elbow	Humerus & ulna	Flexion	Biceps brachii
Shoulder	Humerus & scapula	Horizontal flexion	Pectoralis major and Anterior deltoid
Trunk		Rotation	External obliques

Analysis of jumping

The action in jumping takes place in a sagittal plane about a transverse axis and involves the hip, knee and ankle joints. The hip's bones are the femur and pelvic girdle, which form a ball and socket joint. The bones of the knee involved are the femur and tibia which form a hinge joint. The bones of the ankle involved are the tibia and calcaneus which form a modified joint.

 

Joints involved	Action	Agonist Muscle
Hip	Extension &hyperextension	Gluteal muscles (gluteus maximus and gluteus minimus) and Hamstrings (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus)
Knee	Extension	Quadriceps group of muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and vastus intermedialis)
Ankle	Plantar flexion	Gastrocnemius

Analysis of Kicking

The kicking action takes place in a sagittal plane about a frontal axis and involves the hip, knee and ankle joints. The hip's bones are the femur and pelvic girdle, which form a ball and socket joint. The bones of the knee involved are the femur and tibia which form a hinge joint. The bones of the ankle involved are the tibia and calcaneus which form a modified joint. Kicking comprises of two phases, the preparatory phase and the kicking phase.

Preparatory Phase

Joints involved	Action	Agonist Muscle
Hip	Extension & hyperextension	Gluteal muscles (gluteus maximus and gluteus minimus)
Knee	Flexion	Hamstrings (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus)
Ankle	Plantar flexion	Gastrocnemius

Kicking phase

Joints involved	Action	Agonist Muscle
Hip	Flexion	Iliopsoas
Knee	Extension	Quadriceps group of muscles (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and vastus intermedialis)
Ankle	Plantar flexion	Gastrocnemius

Agonist, Antagonist, Fixator & Synergist Muscles

A question often asked is to identify the Agonist, Antagonist, Fixator & Synergist Muscles. When kicking the ball then:

• Agonist - Quadricep muscles.
• Antagonist - Hamstring muscles.
• Fixator - Gluteus Maximus.
• Synergist - Abdominal muscles.