Question

Worksheet Exercises

For in- or out-of-class assignments, or for testing, utilize this tear-out worksheet.
Selected sport skill analysis
Choose one skill to analyze in the left column below and circle it. In your analysis list the movements of each joint in each phase of the skill. You may prefer to list the initial positions that the joints are in for the stance phase. After each movement, list the muscle(s) primarily responsible for causing/controlling those movements or maintaining the position. Beside each muscle in each movement indicate the type of contraction as follows: I-isometric; C-concentric; E-eccentric.
Skill
Joint
Stance phase
Preparatory phase
Movement phase
Follow-through phase
Baseball pitch
Volleyball serve
Tennis serve
Softball pitch
Tennis backhand
Batting
Bowling
Basketball free throw
Soccer kick
Sprint start
(R)
Cervical spine
Lumbar spine
Shoulder girdle
Shoulder joint
Elbow
Radio ulnar
Wrist
Fingers
Hip
Knee
Ankle
Transverse tarsal/Subtalar
Toes
Worksheet Exercises
For in- or out-of-class assignments, or for testing, utilize this tear-out worksheet.
Selected sport skill analysis (continued)
Choose one skill to analyze in the left column below and circle it. In your analysis, list the movements of each joint in each phase of the skill. You may prefer to list the initial positions that the joints are in for the stance phase. After each movement, list the muscle(s) primarily responsible for causing/controlling those movements or maintaining the position. Beside each muscle in each movement indicate the type of contraction as follows: I-isometric; C-concentric; E-eccentric.
Skill
Joint
Stance phase
Preparatory phase
Movement phase
Follow-through phase
Baseball pitch
Volleyball serve
Tennis serve
Softball pitch
Tennis backhand
Batting
Bowling
Basketball free throw
Soccer kick
Sprint start
(L)
Cervical spine
Lumbar spine
Shoulder girdle
Shoulder joint
Elbow
Radio ulnar
Wrist
Fingers
Hip
Knee
Ankle
Transverse tarsal/Subtalar
Toes

Answer 1

This worksheet exercise is an excellent tool for understanding the biomechanics involved in various sports skills. Let's take the example of a "Soccer Kick" to illustrate how you can fill out this worksheet. Remember, the specifics can vary depending on the exact technique used, but I'll provide a general overview.

Skill: Soccer Kick

Joint Movements and Muscle Actions

Cervical Spine

Stance Phase: Upright (I)

Preparatory Phase: Upright, looking at the ball (I)

Movement Phase: Slight flexion to focus on the ball (I)

Follow-through Phase: Returning to upright (I)

Lumbar Spine

Stance Phase: Neutral (I)

Preparatory Phase: Slight extension (C)

Movement Phase: Extension (C)

Follow-through Phase: Returning to neutral (I)

Hip

Stance Phase: Slight flexion in standing leg, extension in kicking leg (I in standing leg)

Preparatory Phase: Flexion in kicking leg (C)

Movement Phase: High flexion in kicking leg (C), stability in standing leg (I)

Follow-through Phase: Extension in kicking leg (E), returning to neutral in standing leg (I)

Knee

Stance Phase: Slight bend in standing leg, extension in kicking leg (I in standing leg)

Preparatory Phase: Flexion in kicking leg (C)

Movement Phase: Extension in kicking leg (C), stability in standing leg (I)

Follow-through Phase: Flexion in kicking leg (E), returning to neutral in standing leg (I)

Ankle

Stance Phase: Neutral in both legs (I)

Preparatory Phase: Dorsiflexion in kicking leg (C)

Movement Phase: Plantarflexion at the point of contact in kicking leg (C), stability in standing leg (I)

Follow-through Phase: Returning to neutral in both legs (I)

Muscles Involved

Hip Flexors (C in the preparatory and movement phase) - Iliopsoas, rectus femoris

Quadriceps (C in movement phase, E in follow-through) - Vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, rectus femoris

Gluteus Maximus (C in movement phase, I in stance phase for standing leg)

Hamstrings (E in follow-through phase) - Biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus

Gastrocnemius & Soleus (C in movement phase for plantarflexion)

Remember, the type of contraction (isometric, concentric, eccentric) depends on the phase of the movement. This worksheet can be filled similarly for other skills by analyzing the joint movements and the muscles responsible for these movements during each phase of the skill.