Normal function of skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems in football kicking

1. Explain the basic process of movement for the musculoskeletal system.
When a football is kicked using the right foot, the psoas major, abdominals, and erector spinae stabilize the player’s trunk. The psoas, sartorius (oblique muscle situated at the inner thigh and linked to sitting cross-legged), iliacus, rectus femoris, and adductor group control bending or flexion of the right hip. The gluteus – the human body’s largest muscle – guides the left hip’s extension. The strong quadriceps is responsible for extension of the right and left knees, whereas the plantarflexors are responsible for right ankle flexing. The biceps brachii, pectoralis major and anterior deltoid move the football player’s left shoulder towards the body’s midline. Follow-through involves rotation and extension of the player’s right hip by the hamstrings, piriformis and gluteus, whilst the right knee is flexed by the hamstring group (Dale).
Sense organs in the muscles, joints, and tendons inform the CNS (central nervous system) of their motions, allowing the body to act accordingly and control the muscular involvement and joint angles when kicking the ball, thereby addressing it appropriately. Horizontal and front planes facilitate hip rotation. Normally, the knee flexes and extends by 140 degrees. The player’s arms, which are extended to his sides, facilitate maintenance of balance through placing the player’s center of gravity over his support foot (Parrish, 2017). Though the previously mentioned muscles govern much of the main movements linked to kicking a football, several other muscles contribute to steadying other parts of the body in order for the kick to be delivered from one strong support base. These muscles, together known as stabilizers, include the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominus), gluteal muscles (situated in the butt), and back muscles (erector spinae) (Dale).
Antagonist as well as agonist musculature activity is high during the time of ball impact, especially around the player’s knee (De Proft et al., 1988; Dorge et al., 1999; Sorensen et al., 1996). If the kick’s chief objective is assumed to be production of the highest possible ball speed, it is suggested that knee flexor (antagonist) activity during the kick’s end stages constitutes one limiting performance factor (Kellis & Katis, 2007).
2. Explain the basic process of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Football-kicking involves considerable joint and muscle use. Successful kicking requires sound foot-eye coordination, strength, skill, balance, and accuracy. While the act of kicking largely involves the lower body, the player’s entire body works to maintain stability and balance. Elite players are able to kick balls at speeds of 70 mph past goalkeepers’ extended hands and into the net’s corner. The quadriceps – the body’s most powerful skeletal muscle – is sufficiently aided by other muscles in creating an explosive shoe-on-ball impact and blasting it into the net (Dale).
The PNS (peripheral nervous system), comprising of spinal and cranial nerves which transfer messages between body cells, is in charge of message transference from the body to the CNS and vice versa. The ANS (autonomic nervous system), which forms a component of the PNS, is characterized by largely involuntary actions. The ANS controls breathing, digestion, heartbeat and other such actions one doesn’t need to concentrate on at all (DFCP, 2012).
The ANS constitutes a sympathetic system, which cautions one’s body in times of danger or emergency. Consequently, the individual’s heartbeat quickens, pupils dilate, and blood pressure increases in the “fight or flight” response. After the danger passes, this system restores the body to its normal state (DFCP, 2012).
The CNS comprises of the brain and spinal cord; the former possesses information for establishing appropriate responses. The sense organs provide information to the CNS, which processes it and creates an appropriate muscular response. Additionally, the CNS controls metabolic processes. The voluntary or somatic nervous system is in control of typical muscular motion (e.g., lifting one’s arms), whereas the involuntary nervous system is tasked with regulating breathing and other actions a human doesn’t have conscience influence on. The cerebrum – the brain’s thinking part – makes the player aware of kicking the football. It facilitates accurate movements through coordinating muscles and controls posture and balance during the kick (DFCP, 2012).
Bibliography
Dale, P. (n.d.). The Muscles & Body Parts Needed to Kick a Football. Retrieved from Live Strong: https://www.livestrong.com/article/354537-the-muscles-body-parts-needed-to-kick-a-football/#
De Proft E., Clarys J., Bollens E., Cabri J., Dufour W. (1988) Muscle activity in the soccer kick. In: Science and Football. Eds: Reilly T., Lees A., Davids K., Murphy, W.J., editors. London: E & FN Spon; 434-440
DFCP. (2012). How Does Your Nervous System Work? Retrieved from Dotto Family Chiropractic PLLC: http://www.dottofamilychiropractic.com/blog/How-Does-Your-Nervous-System-Work_AE2.html
Dorge H., Bull-Andersen T., Sorensen H., Simonsen E., Aagaard H., Dyhre Poulsen P., Klausen K. (1999) EMG activity of the iliopsoas muscle and leg kinetics during the soccer place kick. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 9, 155-200
Kellis, E., & Katis, A. (2007). Biomechanical Characteristics and Determinants of Instep Soccer Kick. J Sports Sci Med., 154–165.
Parrish, R. (2017). How Do Your Muscular & Skeletal Systems Help You Kick a Soccer Ball? Retrieved from Live Strong: https://www.livestrong.com/article/375250-how-do-your-muscular-skeletal-systems-help-you-kick-a-soccer-ball/
Sorensen H., Zacho M., Simonsen E., Dyhre-Poulsen P., Klausen K. (1996) Dynamics of the martial arts high front kick. Journal of Sports Sciences 14, 483-495