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This course describes the functional role of muscles as it applies to kinesiology and human movement science. This includes definitions for prime mover (agonist), synergist, antagonist, neutralizer, stabilizer, and fixator. Further, the terms are applied to several joint actions for the major joints of the human body (shoulder, scapula, spine, hip, knee, and ankle joints), and examples of altered recruitment and dysfunction are discussed throughout.

Lesson 21: Functional Roles of Muscles

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 The muscle contributing the most force to a joint action when resisted by an external load.

 Muscles that assist the prime mover in performing a joint action.

 Muscles that oppose the prime mover and synergist(s) for a joint action.

 Muscles that oppose unwanted joint motions created by the prime mover and/or synergists, and/or muscles that prevent unwanted ancillary motion.

 Muscles whose primary role is to improve arthrokinematics by maintaining optimal alignment of joint surfaces.

 Muscles that act to reduce or prevent movement at proximal joints to improve force transmission.

 bicep femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, posterior head of adductor magnus

 psoas, iliacus, tensor fascia latae, rectus femoris, anterior adductors, sartorius

 gluteus minimus, tensor fascia latae, anterior adductors neutralize the external rotation force generated by the gluteus maximus

 deep rotators of the hip (gemellus superior, gemellus inferior, obturator internus, obturator externus, and the quadratus femoris)

 intrinsic stabilization subsystem, rectus abdominis, obliques, quadratus lumborum, erector spinae

Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.) must understand the functional roles of muscles for analysis of biomechanics and human kinetics, which is necessary for developing optimal exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Further, this course is essential knowledge for future courses discussing motor neuron function (e.g., agonist activity and reciprocal inhibition of functional antagonists), altered motor function (e.g. synergistic dominance, prime mover inhibition, instability), pain and injury (e.g. muscle fiber dysfunction, trigger point development, acute muscle weakness) and sports performance (e.g. skeletal muscle hypertrophy, maximal recruitment and muscle contraction, and strength and power development).

Approved for credits toward continuing education and the Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification.

Course Summary: Functional Roles of Muscles

Functional Roles of Muscles Study Guide

Study Guide: Functional Role of Muscles

In this lesson, we will review the functional roles of muscles.

This course will include a functional anatomy review as we apply these concepts to various joint actions.

The muscle most responsible for movement of a joint under load. 

That is the muscle that can produce the most force for a given joint action.

Often this term is used synonymously with the term agonist.

It is important to note that the prime mover as defined above, may or may not be the most active muscle for a joint action during activities of daily
living.

Example: the gluteus maximus is the most powerful hip extensor and therefore the prime mover; however, the hamstrings are likely the most active hip extensors during low-level activities like walking or standing.

All muscles that can perform a joint action, but are not the prime mover, are termed synergists.

Example: The rectus abdominis is the prime mover of spinal flexion. All other muscles that can perform spinal flexion are synergists including the external obliques, internal obliques, and psoas.

Muscles that oppose the prime mover and synergist for a given joint action.

That is all the muscles that can perform the opposing joint action.

Example: The triceps and anconeus are antagonists during elbow flexion.

A drawing demonstrating the relationship between agonists and antagonists

Muscles that oppose unwanted joint motions created by the prime mover and/or synergists, and/or muscles that prevent unwanted ancillary motion.

Example: The teres minor and infraspinatus neutralize the internal rotation force created by the pectoralis major during horizontal adduction of the shoulder.

Note: In this course we will focus on neutralizing the ancillary joint actions of the prime mover

Muscles whose primary role is to improve arthrokinematics by maintaining optimal alignment of joint surfaces.

Most often these muscles are the most intrinsic muscles of a joint, have a larger percentage of Type I muscle fibers, and are rich in proprioceptors.

Example: The muscles of the rotator cuff act as stabilizers for most shoulder motions.

Muscles that act to reduce or prevent movement at proximal joints to improve force transmission.

Example: The muscles of the core are important fixators for hip and shoulder motion.

Introduction

In this video, we define the functional roles of muscles, which include prime mover, synergists, antagonist, neutralizers, stabilizers, and fixators of common joint actions of the shoulder, scapula, spine, hip, knee, and ankle joint. This course breakdowns common joint actions based on the functional roles of muscles. This is foundational knowledge for all movement professionals, including personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.

Video Lesson: Functional Role of Muscles

Determine the functional roles of muscles for the following joint actions:

Functional Roles of Muscles Activity: Answer Key

Functional Roles of Muscles Activity

We are in the business of teaching movement patterns. A movement pattern is simply a series of joint actions. Understanding the role of each muscle during a particular joint action provides the foundation for understanding integrated muscular function.

That is, how muscles should work together to produce movement. We can use this knowledge to assess the quality of movement for a given joint action or group of actions. Rehabilitation, corrective exercise programming, optimal exercise selection, and performance enhancement training have kinesiology as their foundation.

"It is not enough to increase the quantity of movement; we must move to a model that increases the quality of movement as well." - B. Brookbush

Biceps femoris (long head), semitendinosus, semimembranosus, posterior head of adductor magnus

 Psoas, iliacus, tensor fascia latae, rectus femoris, anterior adductors
especially pectineus

 Gluteus minimus and anterior fibers of gluteus medius neutralize external rotation force of gluteus maximus and deep rotators of the hip (acting to stabilize the hip joint)

 Intrinsic stabilization subsystem, rectus abdominis, obliques, quadratus
lumborum, erector spinae

An anterior pelvic tilt is noted while a client performs a squat. This is a compensatory pattern that significantly alters hip extension recruitment patterns and reduces performance.

A comparison between anterior pelvic tilt, posterior pelvic tilt, and neutral pelvis

 Overactive biceps femoris and posterior fibers of adductor magnus

Adaptive shortening and hypertonicity of antagonists:

 Short and overactive psoas,
tensor fascia latae, rectus femoris, and anterior adductors

Altered force-couple relationships of neutralizers:

 Inhibition and altered length-tension relationships result in the inability to eccentrically decelerate femoral internal rotation and adduction

 Trigger point development and micro-trauma lead to
hyper-activity and soreness in the deep rotators of the hip

Fixators inhibited leading to altered recruitment patterns:

 Inhibition of intrinsic
stabilization subsystem and synergistic dominance of global movers of the spine.

Why Is This Information Important

Carolyn Richardson, Paul Hodges, Julie Hides. Therapeutic Exercise for Lumbo Pelvic Stabilization – A Motor Control Approach for the Treatment and Prevention of Low Back Pain: 2nd Edition (c) Elsevier Limited, 2004

John V. Basmajian, Carlo J. De Luca. Muscles Alive: Their Function Revealed by ElectroMyography. 1985

Bibliography

Questions, comments, and criticisms are welcomed and encouraged

Lesson 21: Functional Roles of Muscles

Related Courses:

Course Summary: Functional Roles of Muscles

Study Guide: Functional Role of Muscles

Introduction

Video Lesson: Functional Role of Muscles

Functional Roles of Muscles Activity
1 Sub Section

Why Is This Information Important

Bibliography

Related Courses:

Comments

Guest

Lesson 21: Functional Roles of Muscles

Related Courses:

Course Summary: Functional Roles of Muscles

Study Guide: Functional Role of Muscles

Introduction

Video Lesson: Functional Role of Muscles

Functional Roles of Muscles Activity1 Sub Section

Why Is This Information Important

Bibliography

Related Courses:

Comments

Guest

Functional Roles of Muscles Activity
1 Sub Section