The detailed analysis of movement is a complex activity which requires sophisticated equipment. However, the basic analysis of movement can be performed visually. The following can be determined:
- Joints involved
- Movements required
- Muscles involved
- Muscle action and function
The Analysis of Sprinting
The leg action in running 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 that forms a hinge joint.
The bones of the ankle involved are the tibia and ankle that forms a hinge 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 | Dorsiflexion | Tibialis anterior |
The Analysis of Racket Strokes
| There are two phases to striking a ball with a racket, the preparatory phase and the striking phase.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 | Action | Agonist Muscle |
| Wrist | Supination | Supinator |
| Elbow | Extension | Triceps brachii |
| Shoulder | Horizontal hyperextension | Posterior deltoid and latissimus dorsi |
Striking Phase
| Joints involved | Action | Agonist Muscle |
| Wrist | Pronation | Pronator teres |
| Elbow | Flexion | Biceps brachii |
| Shoulder | Horizontal flexion | Pectoralis major and anterior deltoid |
| Trunk | Rotation | External obliques |
The Analysis of Kicking
| The action in kicking is one that involves the hip, knee and ankle joints.The bones of the hip involved are the femur and pelvic girdle that form a ball and socket joint.The bones of the knee involved are the femur and tibia that form a hinge joint.The bones of the ankle involved are the tibia and ankle joint that form a hinge.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 |