Queensland University of Technology

XNB274 Functional Anatomy

Assessment Item No 1:
Movement Analysis of One-armed pushup and Soccer Throw-in
Lecturer: Dr. Tony Shield
Group Members:
Aaron Nicol: n9749284
Dean Cullen n9667466
Ryan Genrich n9428551
Figure 1 Start (left) and finish (right) positions of push-up down-phase

Figure 2 Start (left) and finish (right) positions of push-up up-phase

 Table 1: One arm push-up. Active upper limb only (wrist, elbow, shoulder, scapulothoracic joints) plus the trunk.

Joint Observed Muscles active Contraction Joint action Undesired actions of Explanation for absence of
movement mode tendencies recruited muscles undesired action

UP

Wrist (Pressing None- stabilisation Flexor carpi ulnaris Isometric Extension Flexion, extension, Undesired actions physically
arm) of forearm & radialis, extensor adduction and abduction impossible in pushup position
carpi radialis longus
& brevis, extensor
carpi ulnaris

Elbow Extension Triceps brachii, Concentric Flexion Triceps brachii - shoulder True synergy with anterior
(Pressing arm) anconeus extension delt and pec major

Shoulder Horizontal Flexion Pectoralis major, Concentric Horizontal Pectoralis major - humeral Helping synergy between
(Pressing arm) anterior deltoid extension adduction pecs and delts

Anterior deltoid -
abduction

Scapula Protraction, Serratus anterior, Concentric Retraction Pectoralis minor- Lower and middle trapezius
(Pressing arm) Pectoralis minor, Downward rotation, tendencies cancel each other
 lateral rotation Lower and middle depression, trapezius out
trapezius, sternal (middle)- elevation, True synergy between
head of pectoralis adduction, trapezius serratus anterior and trapezius
major, levator (lower)- depression, prevents retraction
scapulae adduction, Levator Elevation and depression
scapulae- elevation, cancel each other out, true
downward rotation synergy between trapezius
Pectoralis major (sternal and sternal head of pec major
head)- downward rotation, prevents downward rotation
depression

Trunk None- stabilisation Rectus abdominus, Isometric Flexion, Rectus abdominis - Helping synergy with rectus
of trunk internal and torsion flexion abdominus and external &
external obliques Obliques - abdominal internal obliques
compression, trunk
rotation

Wrist (Non- None- relaxed Isometric None

pressing arm) position

Elbow (Non- None-Stabilisation Brachialis, biceps Isometric Extension Biceps brachii (short The shoulder can’t flex
pressing arm) brachii (both head) - Shoulder flexion because the arm is behind
 heads), their back
brachioradialis

Shoulder (Non- None Posterior deltoid Isometric Flexion Lateral rotation True synergy between
pressing arm) Infraspinatus shoulder lateral rotator
Teres minor muscles and pectoralis major
prevent lateral rotation of the
shoulder.

Scapula (Non- None Trapezius Isometric Protraction Trapezius - Rotation, Scapula already fully
pressing arm) Rhomboid major retraction, elevation and retracted. Elevation and
and minor depression depression from the trapezius
Rhomboid major and cancel each other out.
minor - retraction

DOWN

Wrist None-stabilisation Flexor carpi ulnaris Isometric (hyper) Flexion, extension, Undesired actions physically
of forearm & radialis, extensor extension adduction and abduction impossible in pushup position
carpi radialis longus
& brevis, extensor
carpi ulnaris

Elbow Flexion Triceps brachii, Eccentric Flexion Triceps brachii - shoulder True synergy with anterior
anconeus extension delt and pec major
Shoulder Horizontal Pectoralis major, Eccentric Horizontal Pectoralis major - humeral Helping synergy between
extension anterior deltoid extension adduction pecs and deltoids

Anterior deltoid -
abduction

Scapula Protraction, Serratus anterior, Eccentric Retraction As for Protraction, lateral As for Protraction, lateral
Pectoralis minor, rotation above rotation above
Levator scapulae,
sternal head of
pectoralis major
Medial rotation Levator scapulae,
rhomboids,
pectoralis minor,
pectoralis major,
latissimus dorsi

Trunk None Rectus abdominus, Isometric Flexion, Rectus abdominis - Helping synergy with rectus
internal and torsion flexion abdominus and all obliques
external obliques Obliques - abdominal
compression, rotation
Figure 3 start position (left) and end position (right) of preparation phase of soccer throw-in
Figure 4 Start (left) and end (right) positions of cocking phase
Figure 5 Start (left) and end (right) positions of releasing phase
Table 2 Abbreviated Movement Analysis for the Soccer Ball Throw in, (preparation, cocking
and releasing)

Joint or body Observed Muscles active Contraction Joint action

segment movements Mode tendencies of
outside forces
Ankle

Preparation None- postural Soleus, Isometric Plantar flexion

phase control Gastrocnemius

Cocking Phase Very slight Soleus,

Active As above
dorsiflexion Gastrocnemius
Lengthening

Dorsiflexion Soleus,
Releasing Active
Gastrocnemius As above
Phase Shortening

Knee

Prep phase None- Postural Quadriceps, Isometric Flexion

control Hamstrings,
Gastrocnemius,
Popliteus

Biceps Femoris
Flexion Long head and
Cocking Phase Active Flexion
short head, Shortening
Semitendinosus,
Semimembranosus,
Gastrocnemius,
Gracilis, Sartorius
 As above

Release Phase Extension Active Flexion

Lengthening

Hip

Prep phase Extension Gluteus Maximus, Active Flexion

Biceps femoris long Shortening
head,
semitendinosus,
semimembranosus

Further As above As above

Cocking Phase As above
Extension

Flexion
As above Active
Release Phase Flexion
Lengthening
Back

Prep Phase Extension Iliocostalis Active Flexion

Thoracis, Shortening
Iliocostalis
Cervicis,
Iliocostalis
Lumborum,
Longissimus
Cervicis, Spinalis
Thoracis,
Semispinalis
Cervicis,
As above
Cocking Phase Further Semispinalis As above
Extension
 Thoracis

Flexion As above

Release Phase Active As above

Lengthening

As above
Shoulder

Prep Phase Flexion Anterior Deltoid, Active Extension

Clavicular Shortening
Pectoralis Major,
Lateral Deltoid,
Middle and Lower
Trapezius, Serratus
Anterior

As above
As above
Cocking Phase Flexion, Extension,
Deltoid posterior,
horizontal Horizontal
latissimus dorsi,
extension Flexion
infraspinatus, teres
minor

Muscles of both
Preparation and
Extension, Extension,
Active
Release Phase Cocking phase
Horizontal Horizontal
Lengthening
Flexion Flexion

Scapula

Prep Phase Upward Middle Trapezius, Active Downward

Rotation, Lower Trapezius, Shortening Rotation
Serratus anterior
(lower)
 Upper and Middle
Trapezius, Levator
Elevation Active Depression
scapulae, upper
Shortening
Serratus anterior

Middle Trapezius,
Upper and Lower
Trapezius, Active
Cocking Phase Further Downward
Rhomboids, Shortening
Upward Rotation,
Latissimus dorsi,
Rotation, Depression,
Serratus anterior
Retraction, Protraction
Elevation

As above,

Downward
Retraction,
Rotation and Active
Release Phase Upward
Protraction Lengthening
Upper Trapezius, rotation

Middle trapezius,

Elevation Levator scapulae,

Depression
Serratus anterior
Active
(upper)
Shortening
Elbow

Prep Phase Extension Triceps brachii, Active Flexion

anconeus Shortening

Active
Lengthening
As above
Cocking Phase Flexion Flexion

Active
 As above, Shortening

Release Phase Extension Flexion

Wrist

Prep Phase None- Flexor carpi Isometric Flexion

stabilised ulnaris & radialis,
palmaris longus,
Extensor carpi
radialis longus and
brevis, extensor
carpi ulnaris

Extensor carpi
Flexion,
Cocking Phase radialis longus & Active Flexion,
Abduction
brevis, flexor carpi Shortening Adduction
ulnaris, abductor
pollicis longus,
extensor pollicis
brevis & longus,
flexor carpi radialis
& ulnaris

As above

Extension &
Active Flexion,
Release Phase Adduction
Lengthening Adduction
Metacarpo-
phalangeal &
interphalangeal
joints
Prep Phase

None- Flexor digitorum Isometric Flexion

stabilised superficialis and
profundus at
interphalangeal and
flexor pollicis
longus and brevis at
MCP
Cocking Phase
As above
As above
As above As above

Release Phase
Extensor digitorum,
Extension
digiti minimi & Active Flexion
indicis Shortening
Written Section of Complete Analysis

Freeman, Karpowicz, Gray, & McGill’s, 2006 study quantifying muscle patterns and spinal
load during various forms of the push-up had ten healthy university students perform twelve
different styles of push-ups. (EMG) surface electromyographic data found that the spinal load
was greatest in the single arm-up push. Specifically, compression and torque was greatest in
the L4-L5 section of the spine, and compared to a standard or unstable gym-ball push-up, the
single arm-up push requires more stabilisation through the “abdominal hoop” or transverse
abdominal muscle (Freeman et al., 2006). This stabilisation of the transverse plane included
rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques and transversus abdominis (Freeman et al.,
2006). This stabilisation is to reduce trunk rotation tendency in the one armed push-up.
Pectoralis major, triceps brachii and biceps brachii are highly active in the up phase,
pectoralis major and triceps brachii (Freeman et al., 2006). Pectoralis minor has also been
found to be highly active in the push up (Castelein, Cagnie, Parlevliet, & Cools, 2016).

Sandhu, Mahajan, & Shenoy’s 2008 study of the push-up argued that serratus anterior is the
most important muscle in scapular stabilisation while the trapezius muscles contribute to
upward scapular rotation as supplementary stabilisers. Seo et al., (2013) found that the
latissimus dorsi muscle was highly active during the standard pushup as a scapular stabiliser.
This is in line with Lear, & Gross’s, 1998 EMG analysis of various push up progressions.
They found that the lower trapezius was active regardless of push-up condition and that
serratus anterior and upper trapezius were highly active during the standard push up. Tucker,
Campbell, Swartz, & Armstrong’s, comparison of the cuff-link device and standard push up,
also conducted in 2008 and utilising EMG analysis, had similar findings. They supported
serratus anterior and upper and lower trapezius activation and reported high levels of middle
trapezius activation. The anterior deltoid was activated strongly as a shoulder flexor in the
standard push-up (Calatayud, et al., 2014).

References:

Calatayud, J., Borreani, S., Colado, J., Martin, F., & Rogers, M. (2014). Muscle Activity
Levels in Upper-Body Push Exercises With Different Loads and Stability Conditions. The
Physician And Sportsmedicine, 42(4), 106-119.

Castelein, B., Cagnie, B., Parlevliet, T., & Cools, A. (2016). Serratus anterior or pectoralis
minor: Which muscle has the upper hand during protraction exercises?. Manual Therapy,
22, 158-164.
Freeman, S., Karpowicz, A., Gray, J., & McGill, S. (2006). Quantifying Muscle Patterns and
Spine Load during Various Forms of the Push-Up. Medicine & Science In Sports &
Exercise, 38(3), 570-577.

Lear, L., & Gross, M. (1998). An Electromyographical Analysis of the Scapular Stabilizing
Synergists During a Push-up Progression. Journal Of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical
Therapy, 28(3), 146-157.

Sandhu, J., Mahajan, S., & Shenoy, S. (2008). An electromyographic analysis of shoulder
muscle activation during push-up variations on stable and labile surfaces. International
Journal Of Shoulder Surgery, 2(2), 30.

Seo, S., Jeon, I., Cho, Y., Lee, H., Hwang, Y., & Jang, J. (2013). Surface EMG during the
Push-up plus Exercise on a Stable Support or Swiss Ball: Scapular Stabilizer Muscle
Exercise. Journal Of Physical Therapy Science, 25(7), 833-837.

Tucker, W., Campbell, B., Swartz, E., & Armstrong, C. (2008). Electromyography of 3
Scapular Muscles: A Comparative Analysis of The Cuff Link Device and a Standard Push-
Up. Journal Of Athletic Training, 43(5), 464-469.