Muscles used in walking, sitting and using hands and arms

How muscle strength allows us to perform everyday activities

Muscle strength is important to be able to carry out everyday activities.

Everyday activities involve multiple muscle movements at once.

Being able to identify the individual movements used in an everyday activity helps to identify movements that should be assessed and plan the exercises that will help to improve a person’s ability to carry out those activities.


Question

Farah brushing her teeth

Remember Farah?

Farah fractured her wrist after falling down some stairs at university. Look at Farah brushing her teeth.

Which movements is Farah using when brushing her teeth?

Select all that apply.

  •  Shoulder abduction
  •  Elbow flexion
  •  Finger flexion

All are correct.

Farah is using shoulder abduction to lift her arm, elbow flexion to move the toothbrush to her mouth, wrist extension to position the toothbrush and finger flexion to grip the toothbrush.

How upper limb movements contribute to using hands and arms continued…


Question

Sofia standing, chopping vegetables

Remember Sofia?

Sofia enjoys cooking.

Look at Sofia chopping vegetables.

Select all of the movements that Sofia performs with her upper limbs when chopping vegetables.

Select all that apply.

  •  a. Shoulder abduction
  •  b. Elbow flexion
  •  c. Elbow extension
  •  d. Wrist extension
  •  e. Finger flexion

All are correct.

Sofia will use shoulder abduction to move her arm away from her body, elbow flexion to hold up the knife, elbow extension to assist chopping the vegetables and finger flexion to grip the knife.

How lower limb movements contribute to everyday activities


Activity

Sofia standing up from a sitting position

Remember Sofia?

Sofia has been doing muscle strengthening exercises to help improve her balance so that she can do things she enjoys, like gardening.

Look at the image of Sofia standing up from a sitting position.

Write down all of the movements that Sofia uses when standing up from a sitting position.

Note: If it helps, you can practice standing up from a chair with a partner, feel the movements yourself and observe your partner’s movements.

  • Elbow extension
  • Wrist extension
  • Finger flexion
  • Knee extension
  • Hip extension

Jensen will use shoulder elevation, elbow extension and wrist extension pushing off the chair, finger flexion to grip the armrests of the chair and knee and hip extension when rising from the chair.

How lower limb movements contribute to daily activities continued…


Activity

Look at the pictures of Julie walking and answer the questions below

Image of person walking from side-on view

In pairs, practice walking and answer the following questions.

  • Ankle dorsiflexion

By performing ankle dorsiflexion, you are able to keep your foot off the ground.

  • Ankle plantarflexion

Ankle plantarflexion is used to lift your heel off the ground.

  • Hip flexion

Hip flexion is used to lift your leg upwards at the start of the swing phase.