Movement Analysis

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

A description of the actual movements which occur at the joints involved
The plane(s) in which the movement occurs
The muscles producing 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 leg action in running is one that takes place in a sagittal plane about a transverse axis and involves the hip, knee and ankle joints.

The bones of the hip involved 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.

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 and 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	Dorsi flexion	Tibialis anterior

Analysis of Throwing

Throwing comprises of 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 and scapula	Horizontal hyperextension	Posterior deltoids and latissimus dorsi
Elbow	Humerus and ulna	Extension	Triceps brachii

Throwing phase

Joints involved	Articulating bones	Action	Agonist Muscle
Shoulder	Humerus and scapula	Horizontal flexion	Anterior deltoids and Pectoralis major
Elbow	Humerus and 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 the 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 and carpal Radius and ulna	Supination	Supinator
Elbow	Humerus and ulna	Extension	Triceps brachii
Shoulder	Humerus and scapula	Horizontal hyperextension	Posterior deltoid and latissimus dorsi

Striking Phase

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

Analysis of jumping

The action in jumping is one that takes place in a sagittal plane about a transverse axis and involves the hip, knee and ankle joints.

The bones of the hip involved 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 and 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 action in kicking is one that takes place in a sagittal plane about a transverse axis and involves the hip, knee and ankle joints.

The bones of the hip involved 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 and 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

Running Biomechanics

By viewing movements we are able to evaluate how one movement affects another via a chain reaction known as the ‘kinetic chain’ and in doing so, pursue increased efficiencies in movement.

The crucial bottom line is: improve your biomechanics and you are instantly able to train harder and longer, and compete at a higher level. You achieve this with a reduced risk of sports injury, simply because of the corrections you can make to hitherto unrealised faulty movement patterns.

Select this link for more information on "Running Biomechanics"

Associated Pages

The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page: