Antagonistic muscle pairs

Question 1

Elbow joint

Answer 1

antagonistic pair- Biceps; triceps
Movements produced- Flexion; extension
sporting example- Chest pass in netball; badminton smash

Question 2

Knee joint

Answer 2

antagonistic pair- Hamstrings; quadriceps
movement produced- Flexion; extension
Sporting example- Jumping to block in volleyball; tuck jump in trampolining.

Question 3

Shoulder joint

Answer 3

antagonistic pair- Latissimus dorsi; deltoid
movement produced- Adduction; abduction
Sporting example- Golf swing; breaststroke arms.

Question 4

How do you allow antagonistic muscle pairs to work together?

Answer 4

By allowing antagonistic pairs to work efficiently, other muscles called fixators assist by supporting and stabilising the joint and the rest of the body.

The abdominals can act as fixators to stabilise the body for hip and knee movements.

Question 5

In the preparation phase, when a footballer prepares to kick a football, what do their hamstrings do?

Answer 5

Their hamstrings contract to flex the knee while the quadriceps lengthens to allow the movement. The hamstrings are the agonist and the quadriceps are the antagonist.

Question 6

In the contact and recovery phase in football, what do the quadriceps do?

Answer 6

They contract to extend the knee while the hamstrings lengthen to allow the movement. The quadriceps are the agonist and the hamstrings are now the antagonists.