The Discus Throw

Trinity, Noah, Isela, Nick

Introduction

The discus throw is made up of numerous fast twitch movements in the body beginning at the internal
rotation of the leg and leading to specific movements in the shoulder girdle.

The main movements of the throw are made up of muscles such as the trapezius fibers, the serratus
anterior, pectoralis minor, quadriceps, and calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus).

We separated the throw into four phases: the stance phase, the preparation phase, the movement phase
(separated into parts I and II), and the follow through phase (separated into parts I and II).

Using Hudl technique we were able to identify their actions; most of the phases included: abduction,
pronation, supination, dorsiflexion, flexion, retraction, protraction, internal/external rotation and plantar
flexion.

VIDEO CLIP
URL: Discus Throw

VIDEO CLIP ANALYSIS

DESCRIPTION OF STARTING POSITION(STANCE
PHASE)

The athlete begins with her ankles and feet dorsiflexed and approximately
shoulder width apart with her knees flexed. The athletes arms are extended
and her left and right scapulas are abducted and depressed. Finally, the
athletes right hand is pronated and her left hand is supinated.

PHASE 2: PREPARATION PHASE

In the preparation phase the athletes left hand pronates, while the right hand
supinates.

In the athletes left shoulder the left scapula protracts and the glenohumeral
abducts and in the right shoulder the right scapula retracts and glenohumeral
abducts.

Then the rectus abdominis rotates, and the athletes left knee flexes and
internally rotates along with the left ankle and foot in plantar flexion.

The athletes right knee then externally rotates along with the right foot and
ankle in a dorsiflexed position.

PHASE 3: MOVEMENT PHASE, Pt. 1

The athlete then transitions into the movement phase, split into two parts.

The athletes left hand is pronated, and the right hand is supinated.

Then, the rectus abdominus rotates, and right and left knee flex.

The athletes left and right arms are extended, and the right and left scapula are
retracting while the right and left glenohumeral abduct.

Moving down, the left leg externally rotates while the right leg internally rotates.

Finally, the left foot and ankle are plantar flexed while the right ankle and foot
are dorsiflexed.

PHASE 3: MOVEMENT PHASE, Pt. 2

In the second part of the movement phase:

The athletes right and left hands are pronated, with the right arm extended and the
left arm slightly flexed.

Then, the right scapula retracts while the left scapula protracts, and the
glenohumeral abducts.

The left shoulder is elevated and internally rotated while the rectus abdominus
rotates.

The left and right leg and knee are flexed, and the left leg internally rotates.

The right ankle and foot are plantar flexed while the left ankle and foot are
dorsiflexed.

PHASE 4: FOLLOW THROUGH PHASE, Pt. 1

The final phase the athlete has to accomplish is the follow through phase which is
split into two different parts.

The athlete begins with her right and left hands pronated while the left
shoulder is elevated and pronated, and the right shoulder retracted.

The athletes left and right glenohumeral abducts while the rectus
abdominus rotates, and her knees are flexed.

Finally, the left foot and ankle are plantar flexed, and the right foot and
ankle are dorsiflexed.

PHASE 4: FOLLOW THROUGH, Pt. 2

In the second part of the follow through phase.

The right and left hands are pronated, while the right and left arms
are flexed.

The right shoulder is elevated, and the left shoulder is depressed.

Finally, rectus abdominus and both right and left legs extended, and
the right foot is dorsiflexed while the left foot is plantar flexed.

MUSCULAR ANALYSIS
The prime movers of that help contribute to the
movements of the discus throw are:

Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Deltoid
Pectoralis major/minor
Serratus Anterior
Rhomboid

Types of contractions:
In the motion of the throw the deltoid is concentric; it
assists your body with the action of keeping your arm out
during the whole throw.
The eccentric antagonist is the latissimus dorsi; it allows the
deltoid to contract in the throw.
During the throw the pectoralis minor/major are activated at
the power position & continues all the way through, but
once the athlete releases, it goes through a concentric
contraction.
The antagonist is the serratus anterior and it elongates and
has a eccentric contraction.

Method
1st - We filmed the female athlete with an IPad.
2nd - We examined her technique using Hudl & MB Anatomy.
3rd - We analyzed the video frame by frame to figure out the biomechanics of the throw.
4th - We took screenshots of each stage of the throw.
5th - We stated what each of the muscles and joints were doing during each phase.

Bibliography
Dapena, Jesus, and William J. Anderst. "Scientific Services Project." Discus Throw. Web.
Floyd, R. T. Manual of Structural Kinesiology. Nineteenth ed., ibook ed., New
York, McGraw-Hill Ed., 2015.
McGinnis, Peter Merton. Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise. Edited by Amy N.
Tocco and Loarn D. Robertson, Third ed., ibook ed., Cortland, State U of
New York, 1954.
Yu, Bing. "The Biomechanics of Throwing Discus." Center For Human Movement Science. The
University of North Carolina, n.d.