Our Muscle Groups

Located at the back of our upper leg and buttocks, we have one of the largest muscle groups (by mass): hamstrings + glutes. Their proximity and functions were a huge determinant when deciding to group them together. Both muscles are comprised of 3 individual muscles, with the hamstrings’ primary role being knee flexion, whereas the glutes’ primary role being upper body stability. Our hamstrings and glutes are both involved in generating the force required for the ‘push off’ phase in running, with the production distribution estimated to be 1:2 respectively. As many sports require varied running formats – from sprinting to long-distance – it is unsurprising that these muscles suffer a significant proportion of all muscle injuries in sport. Power is also highly concentrated in these muscles when executing movements such as kicking and swinging, making this group crucial for overall sporting performance.

Two underappreciated muscles, the groin + core’s role is quite paramount for overall bodily movement. The groin area – located between your hip, thigh, and abs – embodies your hip flexor muscles, a group of 5 muscles that control the raising of your legs. Your core consists of many abdominal and oblique muscles, all involved in stabilising your trunk for balance. Let’s use an in-game example to demonstrate this group in action. When preparing to strike a soccer ball, you’ve planted your non-kicking leg on the ground and have your kicking leg back to create momentum and power. In this scenario, your hip flexors are pulling your kicking leg back, and will subsequently pull it forward. Your core has stabilised your body, preventing any excessive movement that could impact the shot. A lack of functioning in either of these domains could see reduced shot accuracy and potential injury – impacting athletic performance.

The arms + shoulders dictate a lot of the upper body movement occurring in sports – whether it’s throwing, swinging, or even swimming. There are roughly 8 muscles involved in providing strength, stability, and shape to your shoulder, which is miniscule compared to the 24 in each arm. Your shoulders are a huge power output for athletic movements; this makes them highly prone to strain injuries via overloading, so be sure to take care! Despite conflicting research, it is suggested your arms have a vital role in maximising running speed through their communications with the legs. Additionally, and very much obviously, your arm muscles are crucial for generating the power and direction required for swinging and throwing.