Joint movement and muscle group contractions related to sports performance

Joint Movements

  • Joints, or articulations, are the meeting points of two or more bones in the body.
  • They provide us with mobility and flexibility, allowing us to perform a variety of movements.
  • Ball-and-socket joints such as the shoulder and hip enable a wide range of movements including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation, and circumduction.
  • Hinge joints such as the elbows and knees allow movements in one plane only, i.e., flexion (decreasing the angle between two bones) and extension (increasing the angle between two bones).
  • Pivot joints found in the neck and forearm allow rotation, i.e., the movement of a bone around its own axis.

Muscle Groups and Contractions

  • Muscle contractions are the forces that drive the movement of the joints.
  • There are two primary types of muscle contractions, isotonic and isometric contractions.
  • Isotonic contractions include both concentric contractions (muscles shorten) and eccentric contractions (muscles lengthen), both of which are involved in dynamic movements.
  • Concentric contractions involve the muscle shortening as it contracts, for instance when lifting a weight.
  • Eccentric contractions happen when the muscle lengthens while contracting, seen when lowering a weight back down.
  • Isometric contractions occur when the muscle length remains unchanged despite the muscle tension, such as holding a weight steady.

Relationship to Sports Performance

  • Understanding joint movements and muscle contractions helps to improve and optimise sports performance.
  • Sports like football, gymnastics, swimming, and athletics require an intricate knowledge of joint movement and muscle contractions for optimal training and performance.
  • Recognising the types of muscle contractions and joints involved in a particular sport aids in the design of specific exercises to strengthen the relevant muscles and increase the flexibility of the joints involved.
  • Awareness of muscle-joint interactions also helps in avoiding injuries during training or in games by reinforcing correct techniques and stretching routines.
  • It also helps in efficient recovery and physiotherapy of sports-related injuries.