Question

We have deltoid, trapezius, biceps, triceps, glutues maximus, calves (gastrocnemius and soleus), Quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis), Hamstrings (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimebranosus), Abdominal muscles (Rectus Abdominis, External obliques and transversus abdominis) and forearm muscles.

Give an indepth explanation on why each muscle is important in playing basketball . Explain what parts of the game of movements of basketball require you to use these muscles.  

Answer 1

Deltoid and trapezius (shoulder muscle)

Every time your upper arm gets elevated, your shoulder muscles are being used. While shooting a basketball, the shoulder muscles on your shooting arm are being more heavily recruited than the muscles on your non-shooting arm. This is because the humerus--the large bone in your upper arm--is being elevated higher. The trapezius and deltoids are the anatomical names for the muscles being used. The trapezius is located on the top of the collar bone, and the deltoids are found at the very top of the arm around the shoulder joint.

Biceps - The biceps brachii are the muscles on the front of your upper arms. They cause the elbow to flex, which is a motion you would see when your lower arm is coming back toward your upper arm. When shooting a basketball, your biceps promote the movement of the ball from a position in front of your body to the shooting position

Triceps

The triceps are the large muscles located on the backs of your upper arms. Their anatomical function is to extend the elbow. This action would be seen when your arm goes from a bent to straight position during your shot

Forearm Muscles

The forearms contain two groupings of muscles on the inner and back sides. The wrist extensors open the fingers and cause the hand to go back toward your upper arm. These muscles are being activated when you ave the ball up in front of your body. Once you follow through with your shot and your hand goes downward, your wrist flexors are being used.

Butt and Thighs

You use the muscles in your butt and thighs while playing basketball. The quadriceps muscles, which form the front of your thighs, straighten the knee joint every time you run across the court or jump vertically. Your hamstrings are the group of muscles that form the back of your thighs, and bend your knee each time you lift your leg to run across the court or squat down in a defensive position or as you prepare to take a shot. The hamstrings also work with the gluteus maximus to hyperextend your hips, which moves your thigh back during running or jumping activities in basketball.

Calves

The calf muscles of your lower leg — the soleus and gastrocnemius, a group referred to as the triceps surae — are responsible for ankle movements that point your toes down and away from your leg. Your calf muscles contract constantly as you move around the court, helping you maintain balance and stabilization during rapid multi-directional movements or when bumping into other players. Strengthening the calf muscles also improves your vertical jump for shooting. Just before your feet leave the ground, your calves contract to bring you up on your toes and launch your body into the air.

Core

Your core muscles include the muscles around your hips, lower back and abdomen. The core muscles stabilize all of your body movements while playing basketball by keeping your spine and hip joints in alignment. The abdominals and erector spinae work together to control the trunk of your body. Hip muscles move your thighs forward as you move around the court, and rotate your lower back when you change direction. Strengthening your core makes all your movements more efficient while playing basketball by adding stability to your joints, which allows different muscle groups to work together more effectively.