Kinesiology
Muscle’s actions and
Dr. Sumayeh Abujaber
functional roles
Muscle and joint interaction
• The overall effect of a muscle force on a joint
• In present of a moment arm:
Causes a torque, and may rotate the joint.
• With no moment arm
No torque or rotation will be produced
• However this is still important, why?
Types of muscle activation
A. when a muscle is producing a
pulling force while
maintaining a constant length
• What about the internal and
external torques?
Types of muscle activation
B. When a muscle produces a
pulling force as it contracts
(shortens)
• What about the internal
and external torques?
Types of muscle activation
C. when a muscle produces a
pulling force as it is being
elongated by another more
dominant force
• What about the internal and
external torques?
• contraction vs. activation
A muscle action
• The potential for a muscle to cause a torque in a
particular rotation direction and plane
• The first step in the analysis: determine the planes of rotary
motion (degrees of freedom) allowed at the joint
The line of force of the muscle in relation to the joint
axis of rotation
Muscle action may switch depending on the position
of the joint
Explain, example?
• The line of force of the muscle may shift in relation to the joint
axis of rotation
• Muscle can have opposite actions, depending on the position of
the joint at the time of muscle activation
• E.g. pos.deltoid: from anatomic vs. abducted position (frontal plane)
• Establishing a reference position for the joint is essential when
analyzing the actions of a muscle.
• Common reference position is the anatomic position
Terminology Related
to the Actions/Roles
of Muscles
Some definitions may not be the
same across all textbooks
Agonist
It may refer to all muscles that produce the
movement
• “Prime mover”
• The muscle or muscle group that initiates
Terminology and executes a particular movement.
Related To • Produce the most force “largest workload”
The Roles Of • the tibialis anterior is the agonist for the
motion of dorsiflexion of the ankle.
Muscles • the triceps brachii during the up phase of
a push-up (elbow extension).
• During the down phase of a push-up??
It controls elbow flexion, it is still the
agonist
• Assisting mover (synergist): A muscle that
is not as effective but does assist in
providing that motion
Antagonist
• The muscle or muscle group
Terminology performs the opposite
Related To action of a particular
The Roles Of agonist.
Muscles • Relaxes→ allows movement
of agonist ms
• E.g. the gastrocnemius and
soleus muscles are
considered the antagonists
to the tibialis anterior
Synergists
• A muscle that works with one or more
other muscles to enhance a particular
motion
Terminology • A muscle that works with prime
Related To movers
• Add force, stabilize, neutralize
The Roles Of
• Most meaningful movements of the
Muscles body involve multiple muscles acting
as synergists.
• A term that encompasses the role of
agonists, stabilizers, and neutralizers
• E.G. the flexor carpi ulnaris and
flexor carpi radialis muscles during
flexion of the wrist.
Stabilizer and fixator
• A muscle or muscle group that
supports, or makes firm, a part and
allows the agonist to work more
Terminology efficiently
Related To • To maintain a correct and stable
The Roles Of position
Muscles • Stabilizers: Are muscles that
control arthrokinematics (closer
to jt.)
• Fixators: muscles that fix the
proximal joint to get the
intended mov.
• E.G. When you do a push-up
Example: During shoulder abduction
• Fixators:
• The muscles of the scapula, such as the serratus
anterior and trapezius, stabilizing the scapula
• Stabilizers:
• The rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus,
teres minor, and subscapularis), maintaining the
humeral head in the glenoid cavity and providing
dynamic stability to the shoulder joint.
A neutralizer
• If a muscle can do two (or more)
actions, but only one is wanted, a
Terminology neutralizer contracts to prevent
the unwanted motion to maintain
Related To proper joint alignment and
The Roles Of function.
Muscles • Pure ulnar deviation:
• Flexor carpi ulnaris+extensor
carpi ulnaris
• pure abduction without rotation:
• Deltoid+ infraspinatous and
teres minor
Co-contraction
• When the antagonist contracts at
Terminology the same time as the agonist
Related To
The Roles Of • Provides mechanical stability in
the presence of external
Muscles perturbations and forces due to
limb dynamics
• E.g., holding posture and during
limb movements
• When there is a need for accuracy
Biceps curls
What is the agonist?
What is the antagonist?
What is the fixator?
Hip extension
• What is the agonist?
• What is the antagonist?
• What is the neutralizer?
• What is the fixator?
A muscular force-couple
• When two or more
muscles simultaneously
produce forces in
different linear directions,
but the net torques act in
the same rotary direction.
• Analogy: turning a
steering wheel of a car by
the two hands
