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Prime Mover (Muscle) - Glossary Term Illustration

Prime Mover (Muscle)

Prime Mover: The muscle that can produce the most force for a joint action. Generally, this is the muscle that will generate the most force during a joint action when exerting force against an external load.

Prime Mover (Muscle)

Prime Mover: The muscle that can produce the most force for a joint action. Generally, this is the muscle that will generate the most force during a joint action when exerting force against an external load. For example, the gluteus maximus is the prime mover of hip extension during exercises like the Ultimate Glute Bridge , lateral lunge , deadlift , or squat .

  • Synonym: Agonist, although this term may be used for any muscle responsible for a joint action.
  • Related: The synergists are all the muscles that cause a joint action but are not the prime mover.
  • Opposite: The antagonists would be all of the muscles that perform the opposite joint action.
  • Special Note: The prime mover, as defined above, may or may not be the most active muscle for a joint action during activities of daily living. For 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.

For additional information, including a video lecture:

Functional Roles of Muscles Glossary Terms:

Articles listing all of the muscles by functional role for each joint action:

List of Prime Movers by Joint Action

Shoulder (Glenohumeral Joint)

  • Flexion: Anterior Deltoid
  • Extension: Posterior Deltoid
  • Abduction: Middle Deltoid
  • Adduction: Latissimus Dorsi
  • Internal Rotation: Subscapularis
  • External Rotation: Infraspinatus
  • Horizontal Abduction: Posterior Deltoid
  • Horizontal Adduction: Pectoralis Major

2. Elbow (Humeroulnar Joint)

  • Flexion: Biceps Brachii, Brachialis, Brachioradialis
  • Extension: Triceps Brachii, Anconeus

3. Hip

  • Flexion: Iliopsoas
  • Extension: Gluteus Maximus
  • Abduction: Gluteus Medius
  • Adduction: Adductor Longus
  • Internal Rotation: Gluteus Minimus
  • External Rotation: Gluteus Maximus
  • Horizontal Abduction: Piriformis
  • Horizontal Adduction: Adductors

4. Knee

  • Flexion: Biceps femoris
  • Extension: Quadriceps
  • Internal Rotation (of flexed knee): Semitendinosus and Semimembranosus
  • External Rotation (of flexed knee): Biceps Femoris

5. Ankle (Talocrural Joint)

  • Plantarflexion: Soleus
  • Dorsiflexion: Tibialis Anterior
  • Eversion: Fibularis Muscles
  • Inversion: Tibialis Posterior

6. Spine (Lumbar Spine)

  • Flexion: Rectus Abdominis
  • Extension: Erector Spinae (Spinalis, Longissimus, Iliocostalis)
  • Lateral Flexion: External Obliques, Quadratus Lumborum, Erector Spinae (unilaterally)
  • Rotation: External Obliques

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