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This lesson is an integration lesson that brings together everything you have learned about the skeletal and muscular systems for the OCR GCSE PE specification (J587). You will practise analysing sporting movements by identifying the bones, joints, muscles, movements, antagonistic pairs, muscle roles, and contraction types involved. This is exactly the kind of analysis required in the exam.
When analysing any sporting movement, you should work through the following steps:
flowchart TD
A["Identify the sporting action"] --> B["Identify the joint(s) involved"]
B --> C["Identify the type of joint"]
C --> D["Identify the movement(s) occurring"]
D --> E["Identify the agonist and antagonist"]
E --> F["Identify the fixator (if relevant)"]
F --> G["Identify the type of contraction"]
style A fill:#4a90d9,color:#fff
style D fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
style G fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
Exam Tip: For extended-response questions (e.g., 6-mark questions), you should aim to cover all of these elements. A structured, step-by-step analysis will earn full marks.
A footballer kicking a ball involves multiple phases. The main action occurs at the knee joint (extension of the lower leg to strike the ball).
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Joint | Knee |
| Type of joint | Hinge |
| Bones | Femur, tibia, patella |
| Movement | Extension (straightening the leg to kick) |
| Agonist | Quadriceps (contracts concentrically to extend the knee) |
| Antagonist | Hamstrings (relax to allow extension) |
| Fixator | Gluteals (stabilise the hip to allow the leg to swing) |
| Contraction type | Concentric (quadriceps shorten to produce the kicking movement) |
Before the kick, the leg draws back (flexion at the knee):
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Movement | Flexion (bending the knee to draw the leg back) |
| Agonist | Hamstrings (contract concentrically to flex the knee) |
| Antagonist | Quadriceps (relax to allow flexion) |
A person performing a bicep curl with a dumbbell.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Joint | Elbow |
| Type of joint | Hinge |
| Bones | Humerus, radius, ulna |
| Movement | Flexion |
| Agonist | Biceps (contracts concentrically — shortens) |
| Antagonist | Triceps (relaxes) |
| Fixator | Deltoid (stabilises the shoulder joint) |
| Contraction type | Concentric |
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Movement | Extension (controlled lowering) |
| Muscle performing the work | Biceps (contracts eccentrically — lengthens under tension) |
| Contraction type | Eccentric |
Exam Tip: Notice that during the lowering phase, the biceps is still the muscle doing the work — but it is working eccentrically (lengthening under tension to control the descent). The agonist/antagonist roles during eccentric contractions can be confusing — focus on which muscle is generating force and controlling the movement.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Joint | Elbow |
| Movement | Flexion (arms bend, body lowers) |
| Key muscle | Triceps (eccentric contraction — lengthens under tension) |
| Pectorals | Also working eccentrically at the shoulder |
| Contraction type | Eccentric (controlling the descent) |
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Joint | Elbow |
| Movement | Extension (arms straighten, body rises) |
| Agonist | Triceps (concentric contraction — shortens) |
| Antagonist | Biceps (relaxes) |
| Contraction type | Concentric |
Sprinting is a complex, whole-body action. Here is an analysis of the key phases at the main joints:
| Joint | Movement | Agonist | Contraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip | Extension | Gluteals, hamstrings | Concentric |
| Knee | Extension | Quadriceps | Concentric |
| Ankle | Pushing off (heel raise) | Gastrocnemius | Concentric |
| Joint | Movement | Agonist | Contraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip | Flexion | Abdominals, quadriceps | Concentric |
| Knee | Flexion | Hamstrings | Concentric |
| Joint | Movement | Agonist | Contraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder | Flexion and extension (pumping) | Deltoid, latissimus dorsi (alternating) | Concentric |
| Elbow | Held at approximately 90 degrees | Biceps, triceps | Isometric |
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