MUSCLES USED IN BADMINTON

Badminton is almost all-body sport and the scapular region of the upper limb, upper arm, forearm, abdomen and back. But there are some muscles that play more important roles than others like triceps brachii for hit the shuttlecock.

How do our muscle groups move when...
... we attack at the net?

We first bend our elbow a suitable amount as we prepare to hit the shuttlecock. For this bending movement, the biceps brachii is the agonist muscle; the contraction of the biceps brachii pulls the forearm close to the body; the triceps brachii plays the role of antagonist muscle, adjusting the speed the elbow bends, the agonist muscle and antagonist muscles acting simultaneously to maintain balance.

Then, when we are taking an attacking opportunity, we will straighten the elbow to hit the shuttlecock powerfully. At this time, the triceps brachii is the agonist muscles, the contraction of the muscle taking the forearm far away from the body to complete the arm-straightening movement; the biceps brachii is the antagonist muscle, acting in unison with the agonist muscle. 

... when we jump up to deliver a smash?

When we squat, the tibialis anterior is the agonist. The contraction of the tibialis anterior, moves the front-side of the lower leg and tiptoes together, while at this time the gastrocnemius is the antagonist muscle, responsible for relaxing and supporting the tibialis anterior. Then, the gastrocnemius is the agonist muscle; its contraction moves the front of the lower leg and tiptoes apart, in doing so completing the jumping movement.