![]() While some muscles work together, in a concentric fashion, to produce a movement, others work in other ways to help cancel out other movements, such as the unwanted movement of another bone that the muscle attaches to, or by opposing the movement that could occur in an undesired plane of motion. Don’t worry about the unwieldiness of this since, for the most part, we can simply avoid the word altogether as it adds little to any discussion of muscle actions. So from here on out, the term synergist will become agonist’s synergist. ![]() Therefore, we will say that a muscle that indirectly assists in producing a joint movement is the agonist’s synergist. So, we will deal with it by accepting it but insisting upon using it properly. The second definition is better as it uses the word agonist correctly but it still uses the confusing word synergist, which we have to deal with. The first definition we can easily render incorrect, as will be seen since it incorrectly uses the word agonist to include muscles that cannot be considered agonists. ![]() It is not always completely decided how terms should be used and, to be frank, many of the most popular usages are incorrect ones. As you study human movement you will find contradictions to be the rule. A synergist is another muscle, besides the agonist, that assists the movement of a joint indirectlyĭo not be too surprised by this.A synergist is an agonist that is not directly responsible for the movement of a joint but assists in some other fashion.It is used in two slightly different ways, depending on the precise definition of the word agonist: This would simply cause more confusion, not less, and it is not our place, here at GUS, to decide whether the term should be abandoned. We’d do well to abandon it.Īlthough the word is not useful, it is largely used so we cannot simply ignore it even though we could easily side-step it by simply describing the different roles a muscle may take in helping to produce a movement. Muscle synergy, as above, is an important concept, but the word synergist, used to describe a muscle’s role, is a silly word that is used in different ways by different texts. Students of strength training are always having great difficulty in distinguishing the difference between agonists, synergists, stabilizers, fixators, etc. These muscles, which contribute to a movement indirectly could more clearly be called supporters. This happens when all the muscles involved in a movement besides the prime movers are termed synergists as if the prime movers themselves are not synergists. So, the word synergists is not a very useful word, in itself, when describing muscular roles since it is much too inclusive, and the way it is used is contradictory to its definition as it excludes muscles that could rightly be called synergists by their “synergistic” role in a joint movement. Other muscles, such as stabilizers, neutralizers, and fixators, that help the movement by opposing unwanted movement or by helping to stabilize the joint are also synergists. However, even if a muscle adds directly to a joint’s movement by adding its own torque, it can still correctly be called a “synergist”. Usually, the muscles that are directly involved in producing a certain joint movement are called agonists and muscles that are indirectly involved, by some other role, are called synergists. ![]() “Muscular Control of Movement and Movement Assessment.” Dynatomy: Dynamic Human Anatomy. Print., 2 Whiting, William Charles., and Stuart Rugg. 3: Anatomical Descriptions and Its Limitations.” Fundamentals of Biomechanics. These synergies are of utmost importance in biomechanical research and physiotherapy. When a group of muscles work together to optimally perform a given motor task this is known as a muscle synergy. Even the simplest joint movement requires muscles working together in this synergistic or cooperative fashion. Synergy means that two or more things work together to produce a result that is greater than any of those things could do alone so that the whole result is greater than the sum of the individual effects of the agents involved. The most important aspect to understand about how muscles function to produce a joint movement is synergy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |