The Agonist and The Antagonist! Nope, not in a Novel but, it is a Novel Idea in a Workout!

One of the things about "movement" (kinesiology) that I learned as a fitness professional was that there are two kinds of movement regarding Muscles and that there needs to be a "balance" in order to avoid injury or certain strains.


So why is that important to know?





The definition of these two, the Agonist and the Antagonist is very much the same as a literary body of work.


One is the main or central figure, that would be the Agonist. "A muscle that causes movement."


And the other is the opposing or opposite muscle to the main, central or Agonist Muscle. "A muscle that can move the joint opposite to the movement produced by the agonist."


If you will, its much like two rubber bands that when one contracts, the opposing band has to release or it would break.


If you consider your back (Erector Spinae Muscle down the back) and your stomach muscles or abdominal and side abdominal muscles that give you a "six pack" in appearance (Rectus Abdominis and Obliques)... in order for you to do a "crunch" exercise, the Erector Spinae has to release and your Abdominis has to contract... and these two groups can be interchangeable in the varied movement, meaning, either has to release for the other to contract.
I know... by now you are saying... "That's all great Char but, what the heck importance is this to me?"

ITS HUGE for you!!! lol!!


Ever go to the gym and see what I call "Mirror Body Builders"?   These are the guys that work what they can see in the mirror! lol!!! From the front, and from the waist up, they usually look great!! but, when they turn around or you look at their legs LOL!! They look "odd" to say the least! 


These guys will have a Huge Chest, Front Delts (front of the shoulder), Shoulders, and usually their Lats (Upper back when they flex, looks like wings).


Here's where the importance is for you, as an individual who just wants to be healthy and fit.


If you do NOT workout the opposing muscle groups EQUALLY, you increase your risk for injury.  For example, to do leg extensions (seated at a machine/bench and your bring both legs up equally) and you do ham curls (laying face down on a machine or bench and you curl your legs up KEEPING YOUR BUTT DOWN SO YOU DON'T INJURE YOUR BACK!) then you are setting yourself up for a risk of injury due to one elastic being tighter than the other when its at rest.  Meaning when you are NOT working out.


Here is a couple of pics I found on the net that illustrate these exercises I just mentioned, in case you aren't sure what they are...

LAYING HAMSTRING CURL

SEATED LEG EXTENSION
(SHOWS ONE LEG AT A TIME BUT, USUALLY IS 2 AT A TIME)

It is vital that whatever weight you can do on the Leg Extension, you can also do on the Hamstring Exercise.  As I stated, otherwise one muscle will be more developed and possibly tighter than the other, which can lead to injury and/or imbalances.


Another great example is when you see people who have rounded protruding bellies, often times they also have Back Issues!  The reason for this is that these two muscle groups, the Rectus Abdominis/Obliques and the Erector Spinae are BOTH WEAK!!!  Thus the person is usually of very poor posture, they have a slight hunch forward and the rounded protruding belly. 



Another thing to mention is that when the belly is protruding outward, its because of the fat that is literally strangling your internal organs, has no place left to go, it has grown so much inwardly that it can and often does put pressure on the heart in particular.  If you consider there is a rib cage that will NOT allow the fat to grow beyond it, it has no where other than forward (abdominal area) to go.  And THIS is call Visceral Fat, it is also the hardest fat of all to lose through diet (meaning healthy intake NOT dieting!) and exercise.


Here's another diagram to help show you where this is located in the body.

So in a nutshell... Subcutaneous (Under the skin but, not under the muscle) can be lost, it takes time and work, meaning lots of effort and commitment for the long haul... so that you can get to the other two fats that take even MORE effort and determination.


There are a lot of great sites on the internet that can provide you with the breakdown of each of the muscle groups, just remember this simple rule that applies "most" of the time.


Whatever you do with one muscle (weight wise) you should be able to do with the other... Biceps/Triceps, Hamstrings/Quads, and when you work your abs doing sit-up or crunches, do the same for your back muscles.


EQUALLY as important is to STRETCH out these same muscle groups when you finish working out.


Here's a quick list to help you out.... Under Muscles it gives you the Two OPPOSING muscles and then Parts of the Body, simply where it is located in simple terms.  So for example, you have the Pectorals (there are major and minor) and then you have the Latissimus Dorsi, one is on the chest, the other on the back.

Muscles	Part of the body
Pectorals - Latissimus dorsi	Chest and back
Anterior deltoids - Posterior deltoids	Front and back of the shoulder
Trapezius - Deltoids	Upper back and shoulders
Abdominus rectus - Spinal erectors	Abdomen and lower back
Left and Right External Obliques	Left and right side of the abdomen
Quadriceps - Hamstrings	Front and back of the thigh
Tibialis anterior - Gastrocnemius	Shin and calf
Biceps - Triceps	Top and underside of upper arm
Extensors - Flexors	Forearm

If you look up each of these muscles by name, you will see/find pictures for each that over time, will help you to learn more about movement and just to mention, you do NOT have to make this an "exact" science.  Just make sure what you do to one, you do to the other, whether its weight lifting or stretching it out.


Have a GREAT day and keep eating right and moving!!! One day, one step, one snack, one meal... at a time!! ♥ 


SOURCES/CREDIT:


*Source of Definitions Here*
*Quick List Source Here*