Which muscles produce movement in sport, and how do they work in pairs?
The location and role of the major muscle groups, antagonistic muscle pairs, types of muscle contraction, the role of tendons, and how muscles work to produce movement in physical activity and sport.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE PE Component 01 on the muscular system: the location and function of the major muscle groups, antagonistic muscle pairs (agonist and antagonist), isotonic and isometric contraction, the role of tendons, and how muscles produce movement in sport.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
OCR wants you to locate the major muscle groups, explain how muscles work in antagonistic pairs (agonist and antagonist), describe isotonic and isometric contractions, state the role of tendons, and apply all of this to movement in sport.
The major muscle groups
In a sporting movement, several of these work together. A sprinter driving off the blocks uses the gluteals and hamstrings to extend the hip, the quadriceps to extend the knee and the gastrocnemius to plantar flex the ankle, all in sequence to produce a powerful stride.
Antagonistic muscle pairs
The classic pair is the biceps and triceps at the elbow. When you bend (flex) the elbow, the biceps is the agonist and contracts while the triceps is the antagonist and relaxes. When you straighten (extend) the elbow, the roles swap: the triceps becomes the agonist and the biceps the antagonist. Other pairs include the quadriceps and hamstrings at the knee, and the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior at the ankle.
Types of muscle contraction
Different sports rely on different contractions. A weightlifter performing a clean uses concentric contractions to lift the bar, eccentric contractions to lower it under control, and isometric contractions to hold the lockout position at the top. Understanding the contraction type lets you explain how a muscle is working at each stage of a skill.
The role of tendons
Tendons attach muscle to bone. When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the tendon, which pulls on the bone, moving the joint. Tendons are strong and slightly elastic so they can transmit large forces without tearing, although overuse can cause tendon injuries such as tendonitis (linked to overuse injuries in the preventing injury topic).
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR 20194 marksDuring the upward phase of a biceps curl, identify the agonist and the antagonist, and explain the type of contraction occurring in each.Show worked answer →
A Component 01 movement-analysis question. Award marks for the correct muscles and the contraction types.
During the upward (lifting) phase, the elbow flexes. The biceps is the agonist (the prime mover) and contracts, shortening to bend the elbow. This is an isotonic concentric contraction because the muscle shortens under tension.
The triceps is the antagonist and relaxes (lengthens) to allow the movement. The two muscles form an antagonistic pair.
Markers reward naming both muscles correctly, identifying agonist and antagonist, and stating that the biceps shortens while the triceps relaxes. Saying both contract at once is a common error.
OCR 20223 marksExplain the difference between an isotonic contraction and an isometric contraction, using a sporting example of each.Show worked answer →
A 3-mark definition-and-application item.
Award marks for: an isotonic contraction is one where the muscle changes length and the body part moves, for example the biceps shortening to lift a dumbbell in a curl (concentric) or lowering it under control (eccentric).
An isometric contraction is one where the muscle stays the same length and there is no movement, for example holding a plank or a gymnast holding a crucifix on the rings, where the muscle generates force to hold a position.
Full marks need a clear statement that isotonic involves movement (length change) and isometric does not, plus a relevant example of each.
Related dot points
- The functions of the skeleton, the classification of bones, the structure of a synovial joint, the types of joint and the movement they allow, and the role of the skeleton in physical activity and sport.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE PE Component 01 on the skeletal system: the functions of the skeleton, the major bones, the structure of a synovial joint, the types of synovial joint, the movements they allow, and how the skeleton supports performance in sport.
- The three classes of lever (first, second and third class), the components of a lever (fulcrum, effort and load), mechanical advantage, and examples of each lever in the body during physical activity.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE PE Component 01 on lever systems: the fulcrum, effort and load, the three classes of lever with body examples, how to identify a lever class, mechanical advantage, and how to calculate it for the second-class lever.
- The three planes of movement (sagittal, frontal and transverse) and the three axes (transverse, sagittal and longitudinal), and the analysis of sporting movements such as somersaults, cartwheels and full twists using planes and axes.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE PE Component 01 on planes and axes of movement: the three planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse), the three axes (transverse, sagittal, longitudinal), how plane and axis pair up, and how to analyse somersaults, cartwheels and full twists.
- The short-term effects of exercise on the muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the long-term training adaptations, and how these effects benefit a performer in physical activity and sport.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE PE Component 01 on the effects of exercise: the immediate short-term responses (heart rate, breathing, temperature, lactic acid), and the long-term adaptations of training (cardiac hypertrophy, bradycardia, capillarisation, muscle hypertrophy) and how they benefit a performer.
- The components of physical fitness (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, speed, power, flexibility, agility, balance, coordination and reaction time), their definitions, and their importance to performance in different sports.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE PE Component 01 on the components of fitness: the definitions of cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, speed, power, flexibility, agility, balance, coordination and reaction time, and how each is important to performance in named sports.
Sources & how we know this
- OCR GCSE (9-1) Physical Education J587 specification — OCR (2016)