Muscles & Movement (OCR GCSE Physical Education (PE)): Revision Note

The roles of muscle in movement

• At each joint, multiple different muscle groups work together to cause movement in two or more directions 

• Muscles are attached to bones by tendons and when they contract, they move our bones by pulling on them 

• Muscles can only pull; they cannot push therefore the major muscles of the body work in antagonistic pairs 

  • Agonist muscles contract and therefore shorten, pulling the bone at the joint and causing the movement, this can also be called the prime mover 

  • Antagonist muscles relax during a movement and therefore lengthen 

• To allow antagonistic pairs to work efficiently, a fixator muscle assists by stabilising the joint, body part or limb to prevent unintended movements  

• The major muscles and muscle groups working together at each major joint are the: 

  • Elbow: Biceps and triceps

  • Knee: Hamstrings and quadriceps 

  • Shoulder: Latissimus dorsi and pectorals

  • Hip: Hip flexors and gluteals