Running Head: MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

Movement Analysis Assignment

MSTH 200
Soraia Lavareda and Jocelyn Sommerville
Tuesday, Novemeber, 18, 2014

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

Analysis of Each Movement

1. The movement that was chosen for this assignment was a slow eccentric middle
split by a gymnast. The movement required for this functional activity is
abduction and external rotation and slight flexion of the hip. The motion should
continue until the pelvis comes in contact with the floor. Full knee extension and
plantar flexion of the ankle is also required for this movement.
2. The ranges of motion that are required for this activity at the hip are:

90 degrees of hip abduction

45 - 50 degrees of external rotation in order to avoid bony limitations with

the acetabulum and the greater trochanter

At the knee:

Full extension

At the ankle and phalanges:

Maximal plantar flexion

Maximal flexion of all IP joints and MTP joints

3. The muscles that should be flexible in order for this movement to occur will be:

muscles that produce adduction of the hip, including adductor magnus,

longus and brevis, pectineus and gracilis

muscles that produce internal rotation of the hip such as TFL, gluteus
minimus and gracilis

Muscles that flex the knee including the hamstrings, gastrocnemius,

gracilis and popliteus.

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

Mucles that dorsiflex the ankle and extend the phalanges such as tibialis
anterior, extensor digitorum longus and brevis and extensor hallicus.

The muscles at the hip that need to be strong during this activity are the external
rotators. External rotators consist of gluteus maximus, piriformis, obturator internus and
externus, superior and inferior gemelli, quadratus femoris, Sartorius, pectineus, adductor
magnus and brevis and iliopsoas. At the knee joint the muscles that need to be strong are
ones that produce extension. These muscles are rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus
medialis and vastus intermedius. The muscles that produce plantar flexion and flexion of
the digits in the foot must also be strong, including gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris,
flexor hallicus longus and brevis and flexor digitorum. All the intrinsic flexor muscles of
the foot are also included in this activity to produce flexion of the MTP and IP joints.
This athlete needs to be able to gradually slide into the position of middle splits.
This movement is a slow eccentric contraction using hips adductors and a concentric
contraction of the external rotators. The movement at the knee is an isometric contraction
of the knee extensors. The plantar flexion and flexion of the phalanges is also a slow
isotonic contraction occurring as the athlete lowers themselves to the ground.
There is no minimum or maximum time requirement associated with this
movement. However, if the athlete is using this movement as a stretch they should hold
it for a minimum of 30 seconds in order to reach the plastic range on the stress strain
curve.
The athlete performing middle splits is overcoming two loads. The first is the
weight of gravity. The second load is the athletes body weight. These loads are trying to

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

increase the speed of the movement making it more difficult for the athlete to maintain a
slow eccentric contraction.
4. A common impairment that affects this activity is a strain to a given adductor of
the hip. This athlete is specifically suffering from a grade 2 strain of her left
adductor longus. The mechanism of injury was a quick and uncontrolled stretch
of the muscle without an appropriate warm-up. You meet this athlete
immediately following the onset of the injury at a gymnastics tournament you are
attending and your rehabilitation program begins there.
5.

Early Stage days 1-7

During this phase the main goal is to reduce pain and inflammation and
prevent any further damage. The instructions to the athletes are as follows:
First 72 hours

Rest no physical activity should be done at this time to prevent

further injury. Assisted walking devices like crutches could be used if
necessary.

Ice 6 cycles of 15 minutes on and 30 minutes off.

Compression keep affected areas wrapped in a tension bandage or a

sleeve.

Elevation keep affected leg elevated.

Once there are no longer signs of inflammation the athlete can begin a
rehabilitative exercise program. In the early stages the focus is preventing further injury
to the affected muscle and decreasing the chance of atrophy in other muscles. The athlete

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

can continue to do sport specific upper body actives and dont require to much lower
body involvement especially the adductor muscle group (ex. Push-ups, pull-up & dips).
Early-Mid Stage
During this phase the focus is to slowly and safely start strengthening the effected
muscle using isometric exercises. Progressions for these exercises have also been given
that involve isotonic muscle contractions of muscle groups involved in doing the middle
splits. At this point the athlete may also begin low intensity stretches to the area.
Mid-Late Stage
During this phase the focus is regaining strength using isotonic contractions of the
affected muscle. The intensity of the adductor stretches will also slowly start to increase.
Movements are becoming more sport specific and beginning to use other muscle groups
at the same time.
Late Stage
This phase is preparing the athlete for their return to sport. Movements are more
intense and sports specific and forcing the athlete overcome similar loads they will face
when they return. Dynamic stretching will also be introduced in this stage.

Running Head: MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

PROGRESSIO
N

EXERCISE/STRETC
H
Bent squeeze

SET
S

REP
S

TIME

5 sec

once daily
every other
day

Straight leg squeeze

with pointed toes

Standing adductor
stretch

Same as above but push through your heels and

lift your hips off the floor as you squeeze your
knees together.

5 sec

Sit up with your back against a wall, legs

straight in front of you and a firm object
between your knees. Squeeze knees together
while contracting your quads.

5 sec

Same as above but point your toes as you

squeeze your knees and contact your quads.

Seated foot alphabets

Standing alphabets

DESCRIPTION
Lay on your back knees bent to 90 degrees, feet
flat on the floor and a firm object between your
knees. Squeeze your knees together and hold
for 5 seconds, relax and repeat.

5 sec

With a glute bridge

3

FREQUENCY

30 sec

twice daily,
everyday

Sit with your bum towards the edge of a chair.

Trace out the letters of the alphabet using your
leg trying to get as much movement from your
hip as possible.
Same as above only standing. Use a wall or
chair for balance if needed.

2 times daily,
everyday

Stand with legs wide apart, bend one knee and

lean towards that side keeping the other leg
straight.

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

PROGRESSIO
N

EXERCISE/STRETC
H
Theraband adduction

emphasize on eccentric
Bent knee single leg
slides

SET
S

REP
S

Mid-Late Stage
TEMPO/TIM
FREQUENCY
E

Secure theraband to something low that wont

move, tie the other end to your ankle. Pull the
leg towards and past the mid-line of your bod,
then slowly return to the start position. Stop
when you feel a strong stretch. *no pain

10

2-1-2-1

10

1-1-4-1

3-2-1-1

3-2-1-1

30 sec

Maintain your balance on one leg. Keep stance

legs knee slightly bent.

20 sec

30 sec

Same as above but standing on an unstable

surface.
Laying on your back with bum up against the
wall and legs straight on the wall. Slowly let
your legs fall to the sides while maintaining
contact with the wall and keeping knees
straight. Stop when you feel a strong stretch.
*no pain

once daily,
everyday

Bent knee double leg slides

Single leg balancing

On a cushion

DESCRIPTION

Laying adductor wall

stretch
3 times daily,
every day

Same as above but lengthen youre the time it

takes you to return to your start position.
Kneel with a towel under one knee (hold on to a
chair in front of you if needed). Slide the knee
with the towel out to the side, then pull back
towards your midline.
Same as above but have a towel under both
knees and move both out to the side at the same
time and pull together.

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

PROGRESSIO
N

EXERCISE/STRETC
H
Side to side leg swings

SET
S

REP
S

Late Stage
TEMPO/TIM
FREQUENCY
E

15

small to large

10

4-1-2-1

10

4-1-2-1

Before
strength
exercises

Single leg standing leg

slides

Double leg standing leg slides

Twice daily,
everyday

Side lunges
3

10

1-2-1-1

10

1-2-1-1

45 sec

45 sec

on cushion

Middle split stretch

elevate ankles

3 times daily,
every day

DESCRIPTION
Holding on to a wall or table, keep core tight
and begin by swing one leg at a time side to
side. Each swing should get progressively
bigger.
Stand with a towel under one foot. Slowly slide
the towel foot to the side while bending the
other knee. Return to start position by bring the
towel foot back to midline. *hold on to a chair if
needed
Same as above but have a towel under both feet
and slid them out to the sides at the same time,
then pull together. *use chair if needed
Standing with feet together step one leg out to
the side then bend that knee (keeping chest up
and bum back). Then push through the bent leg
and return to start.
Same as above but stepping leg lands on an
unstable surface. *make sure landing surface
secure and wont move
Start standing with feet together. Slowly let
legs slide apart and keeping knees straight. As
your pelvis moves closer to the floor your legs
will need to externally rotate. If pelvis cannot
reach the ground use a block underneath for
support. *use a chair if needed
Same as above. If pelvis can reach the floor,
place a block under both ankles.