Running head: ACTIVITY ANALYSIS: CORNHOLE TOSS 1

Activity Analysis: Cornhole Toss

Kurt Kaufmann, Sean Loran, Ellen Riley, and Leah Storch

Spalding University
ACTIVITY ANALYSIS: CORNHOLE TOSS 2

Activity Analysis: Cornhole Toss

Activity Analysis

Cornhole is a partner activity played by a diverse population. It is a game that brings

families and friends together at any type of gathering, whether it be tailgating prior to a football

game or cooking out on a warm summers day. Cornhole can be played by people of all ages and

abilities. It is a great opportunity for participants to engage in friendly competition, while

interacting and bonding with others. The specific cornhole action discussed in this analysis is the

bean bag toss. The toss can be broken down into five basic steps:

1. Start

2. Step

3. Swing

4. Release

5. Follow through

The start stage is defined as when the subject goes from a neutral position and begins to

step forward with his right foot and slightly raise his right arm. During the step phase, the

subject places his right foot down and brings his right arm down towards his thighs, in order to

gain momentum through a backswing. In the swing portion, the subject begins to swing his

right arm up, while shifting his weight forward over the right foot. The release stage occurs

when the subject releases the bean bag from his right hand up in hopes of landing on the opposite

cornhole board. Finally, the follow through stage concludes the toss as the right arm is raised

above the head and the subjects weight has shifted so he is positioned over his right foot. The

anatomical movements at the chest and each extremity are listed in Table 1 in Appendix A.

One of the reasons cornhole is such a widespread and popular game is because it can be

played by a wide assortment of persons. The game can easily be graded up or down, dependent
ACTIVITY ANALYSIS: CORNHOLE TOSS 3

upon participants capabilities and performance skills. Possible limitations such as decreased

muscle strength, muscle contractures, decreased grip strength, fatigue, and restricted shoulder

range of motion can all have an impact on an individuals ability to toss the bean bag. Various

ways in which cornhole can be graded down include shortening the distance between the two

boards, enlarging the board and/or hole size, using lighter bags, using bags with grips on them,

tossing the bag with two hands, and making changes to the scoring system so games are not as

long.

Anatomical Dimensions

Task Performance Involvement

Key joints involved with the motion of tossing a bean bag are the glenohumeral,

humeroulnar, wrist, hip, knee, and talocrural joints. As shoulder flexion occurs at the

glenohumeral joint, the scapula upwardly rotates at the scapulohumeral joint. The

metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints of the hand are also major joints

involved in the action of holding and releasing the bean bag. Movement in the axial skeleton

occurs during movement in the neck and trunk at the cervical and lumbar spine.

The prime movers for right shoulder flexion at the glenohumeral joint are the pectoralis

major and anterior deltoid. As the shoulder flexes, the scapula upwardly rotates when the

serratus anterior, lower trapezius, and upper trapezius contract. The major muscles acting to

internally rotate the right shoulder are the subscapularis and teres major, as opposed to the

external rotator muscles, the infraspinatus and teres minor. The latissimus dorsi and teres major

are working on both sides to adduct the right and left shoulders; however, these two muscles also

work to extend the humerus on the left side during the follow through phase. The prime mover

working to flex the right elbow at the humeroulnar joint is the brachialis, whereas the triceps

work to extend the elbow at the same joint. The brachialis of the left upper extremity is also
ACTIVITY ANALYSIS: CORNHOLE TOSS 4

working to maintain the flexed position throughout the tossing movement. In order to flex the

right wrist, the flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, and the palmaris longus are contracting

as a force couple. During the swing and release phase of tossing the bag, the wrist extensors are

working, which include the extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, and

extensor carpi ulnaris. The lumbrical grasp used to hold the bean bag involves flexion of the

MCP of digits two through five, which is carried out by lumbrical muscles one through four, as

well as opposition of the thumb. The palmar interossei adducts digits two through five. During

the follow through stage, the subject fully extends the second digit, which is carried out by the

extensor indicis proprius.

The trunk flexes via the rectus abdominals, and the erector spinae group are the primary

trunk extensors. Neck extension is carried out by the splenius cervicis and the splenius capitis,

and the neck flexes when the sternocleidomastoids bilaterally contract. The prime mover for hip

flexion of the right hip is the iliopsoas muscle, whereas the gluteus maximus on both sides work

to extend both hips. Both hips also externally rotate due to the piriformis. The knee flexes

through contraction of the hamstring muscles, which includes the biceps femoris,

semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. Extension of the knee occurs through the quadriceps,

which include the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and vastus medialis. The

ankles both dorsiflex at the tibialis anterior and the extensor digitorum longus, and they both

plantar flex at the talocrural joint by the gastrocnemius and the soleus.

Postural Control

By taking a forward step in tandem with the toss, the subject gains momentum and

strength by using his body weight to help propel the bean bag forwards, as opposed to simply

relying on the strength and weight of his dominant upper extremity. His center of mass moves
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forward from over his left foot during the start to over his right foot in the follow through. In

order to maintain balance, the center of mass must remain within the base of support. The base

of support, therefore, begins as the left leg (as the right leg is lifted in order to step forward) and

finishes as the right leg (as the left leg is lifted off the ground in the follow through). Muscles all

around the body are working throughout the duration of the toss to keep this alignment. As the

right foot steps forward, the abdominals first contract to bring the head forward over the right

foot. Then, the back and neck extensors contract in order to erect his head and back to maintain

posture as the body continues to move forward. Other muscles working to keep the center of

mass over the subjects base of support include the hamstrings, quadriceps, gluteal muscles,

tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius. Two key movements occur in order for the subject to keep

his balance as his center of mass shifts forward: left arm and left leg extension. The gluteus

maximus and hamstring muscles help to extend the left leg, and the left latissimus dorsi and teres

major extend the humerus back to counterbalance his forward shifting momentum.

Joint Stability

Majority of the tossing action comes from the movement at the shoulder joint, which is a

very mobile joint; however, mobility equates to instability in joints. The soft tissue structures

responsible for stabilizing the humerus in the glenohumeral joint are the rotator cuff muscles: the

supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor. The labrum and ligaments, such as

the glenohumeral, coracohumeral, and coracoacromial, are also important structures that provide

stability in the shoulder. In regards to the lower extremities, the anterior cruciate ligament in the

right knee helps the subject stabilize as he slows his moment down from stepping forward. The

medial and lateral meniscus also provide support and cushion as most of his body weight moves

over his right knee.

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Biomechanical Dimensions

Degrees of Freedom

As previously stated, the key joints involved in the tossing movement are the

glenohumeral, humeroulnar, wrist, hip, knee, talocrural, MP, and PIP/IP/DIP. The glenohumeral

joint is a ball-and-socket joint that has three degrees of freedom, and all three are utilized during

flexion/extension, internal rotation, and adduction at the shoulder. The humeroulnar joint is a

hinge joint with one degree of freedom that is used during elbow flexion/extension. The wrist

joint has two degrees of freedom; however, only one is engaged (flexion/extension), as radial and

ulnar deviation do not occur during the tossing motion. The hip joint is also a ball-and-socket

joint and, thus, has three degrees of freedom, all of which are utilized in hip flexion/extension,

external rotation, and adduction. Like the elbow, the knee is a hinge joint with one degree of

freedom that is used in knee flexion and extension. The talocrural joint is a hinge joint with two

degrees of freedom, only one of which is being employed (plantar flexion/dorsiflexion). The

metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint has two degrees of freedom and both are used in

flexion/extension and adduction. The proximal interphalangeal (PIP), interphalangeal (IP), and

distal phalangeal (DIP) joints all have one degree of freedom, which is utilized in flexion and

extension.

Kinematic Chains and Forces

In regards to the upper extremities, both the right and left arms are in an open kinematic

chain, as both are able to move around freely. The lower extremities (LE) are a bit more difficult

to pinpoint. During the first two stages (start and step), the right LE is in an open chain, as it lifts

off the ground and flexes forward, and the left LE is in a closed chain, as it remains planted

firmly to the ground. In the next three steps (swing, release, and follow through), the left LE is
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in an open chain, as it begins to extend back and off the ground, and the right LE is in a closed

chain, as it remains planted to the floor with the bodys weight resting on it.

External forces acting upon the subject are as follows: a) the weight of the bag, b) the

weight of the dominant (right) arm throwing the bag, c) gravity, and d) air resistance. Internal

forces acting upon the subject are all the muscles mentioned above in the anatomical dimensions

portion. They are all the muscles involved in the action of tossing the bean bag.

Muscle Contractions

In the upper extremities (UE), there are several different types of muscle contractions

occurring throughout the cornhole toss. As the shoulder flexes in the right UE, a concentric

contraction occurs at the anterior deltoid and pectoralis major, whereas an eccentric contraction

is occurring at the latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major. As the elbow extends in the right UE, a

concentric contraction occurs at the triceps, while an eccentric contraction occurs at the

brachialis. Wrist extension accounts for a concentric contraction at the wrist extensors (extensor

carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi radialis longus, and extensor carpi ulnaris) and an eccentric

contraction at the wrist flexors (flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus). As

the left UE remains fixed at the subjects side throughout the toss motion, an isometric

contraction occurs at the biceps, wrist flexors, and shoulder internal rotators.

In the right LE, a concentric contraction occurs at the iliopsoas with hip flexion, as an

eccentric contraction occurs at the gluteus maximus. This is reversed during extension in the left

LE; iliopsoas eccentrically contracts and the gluteus maximus concentrically contracts. As both

the right and left knees flex, the hamstrings concentrically contact and the quadriceps

eccentrically contract. During extension of both knees, an eccentric contraction occurs at the

hamstrings and a concentric contraction at the quadriceps. In ankle plantar flexion, the
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gastrocnemius is concentrically contracted, whereas the tibialis anterior is eccentrically

contracted. This is reversed during ankle dorsiflexion with the gastrocnemius eccentrically

contracted and the tibialis concentrically contracted.

As the trunk flexes during the first steps of the tossing movement, the abdominals

concentrically contract, whereas the erector spinae muscles eccentrically contract. During trunk

extension, it is the erector spinae muscles that then concentrically contract and the abdominals

eccentrically contract. In neck flexion, the gastrocnemius on each side are in a concentric

contraction and the splenius cervicis and splenius capitis, are in an eccentric contraction. This is

reversed during neck extension; the splenius cervicis and splenius capitis are in a concentric

contraction and the gastrocnemius on each side of the neck are in an eccentric contraction.

Contextual, Social, and Other Dimensions

Spatial/Environmental and Temporal

In order to play, one needs a flat outdoor or indoor surface that is two feet wide and

twenty-seven feet long. In this space, the participants place two cornhole boards twenty-seven

feet apart. Each board has a six inch hole centered nine inches from the top and the top edge is

lifted twelve inches from the ground. The bags are six inch by six inch squares filled with beans,

corn or sand. Each bag weighs approximately one pound. Additionally, each team will have a

set of four bags that is identifiably different than the other teams set in terms of colors. Once the

boards are in place and the teams have their bags, it is game-time. The partners stand on

opposite ends, one by each board. The opposing players from one side take turns throwing one

beanbag at a time. The aim is to either sink the beanbag inside the six inch hole or have more

bags land on the slanted boards surface than the opponent. Having more bags on the board

gains the respected team one point for each bag, and each bag in the hole is worth three points.

These steps are repeated until the first team reaches twenty-one.
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A game of cornhole can last anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on

the pace of the game and the skill level of the participants. If a person is unable to land a bean

bag either on the board or in the hole, and thus score points, the game may last much longer than

more skilled players who can score up to twelve points each round. In addition, competitive

games where the stakes are high will have an increased pace compared to more relaxed games

played for enjoyment and leisure.

Sociocultural and Emotional

Cornhole is highly popularized in the United States, especially amongst college students,

sports fanatics, and barbeque enthusiasts. It can be found at sporting event tailgates, backyard

parties, cookouts, and some bars during the summer months. The game is gender-neutral and

attracts persons from all backgrounds. Cornhole is a great game to play with family, friends, and

even friendly strangers. It allows participants the opportunity to not only compete, but also bond

with ones partner and opponents through casual conversation and a shared interest in the game.

Cornhole elicits a laidback, leisurely vibe, as it is commonly played with an alcoholic beverage

in hand amongst of age students and adults. There are instances when cornhole can become more

competitive through tournaments and wagers; however, majority of cornhole matches are played

amongst family and friends wishing to relax and have fun, thus making the task a leisure activity

for adults ages twenty to fifty.

Dependent upon ones competitive nature, cornhole can either be calming or exciting. For

someone who strives to win and compete in every game, emotions felt during a cornhole match

can range from excitement and pride to anger and bitterness, dependent upon the end results. A

more laidback individual can experience feelings of calmness, confusion, and bliss. Together,
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both can expect to have fun and feel happy. If one is enrolled in a cornhole tournament, there

may be increased pleasure to succeed, thus making it more stressful and intimidating.

Cognitive and Sensory

The single act of tossing a bean bag towards a board in hopes that it either lands on the

boards surface or goes directly into the hole is not a difficult task to learn. Children can easily be

taught to swing ones dominant arm forward while holding a bean bag and let go of the bag as

the arm swings up, so that bag may propel forward; however, it does require some cognition to

be able to perfect ones toss, so that the bag will either land on the board or go in the hole with

each toss. If abiding by the rules, cognitive demands extend into keeping score, as the use of

addition and subtraction, albeit never counting over twenty-one. Plus, one must be able to recall

and keep up-to-date with the score throughout the game, so as to not forget the score and, thus,

the winner. Attentional demands of cornhole require that participants be able to attend to the

game until one team reaches twenty-one points.

The two sensory systems involved in the action of tossing a bean bag are vision and

touch. Vision is important for depth perception to see how far away the board is positioned. This

is necessary to figure out how much force to put behind the toss in order for the bag to reach the

board. Touch is important as one feels the bean bag and determines how heavy it is, thus again,

figuring out how much force to put behind the toss.

Application to Practice

As future occupational therapists, cornhole can be a purposeful activity in which we

engage clients in who possibly have decreased muscle mass in the shoulder, wrist, or lumbrical

muscles; limited ROM in the glenohumeral joint; or want to participate more so within the

community. If a client must work to strengthen his/her shoulder flexors, lifting weights can
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become a vary tedious and boring task. Activities such as cornhole also work to strengthen those

same muscles, but are more engaging and meaningful to clients. In a study dated back to 1984,

researchers found that purposeful activity can serve as an intrinsic motivator, as clients are more

engaged and work harder in these activities, as opposed to non-purposeful activities (Majorie).

For clients who may not be able to perform all the movements involved in a cornhole toss, there

are electronic games that can simulate the activity and still work to strengthen the muscles

engaged. In a study performed in 2012, researchers found that the use of Nintendo Wii Sports

games during therapy provided to be beneficial and challenging to participants involved for both

rehabilitation and leisure (Celinder & Peoples). This can be beneficial as we head into our

professional careers as occupational therapists to put into out OT toolbox and save for later

possible use.
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References

Celinder, D., & Peoples, H. (2012). Stroke patients experiences with Wii Sports during

inpatient rehabilitation. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 19(5), 457-463

Majorie, A. K. (1984). Motivation as a factor or perceived exertion in purposeful versus

nonpurposeful activity. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 38(3), 165-170

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Appendix A
Table 1: Anatomical Movements through Bag Toss

Body Joint Stage

Region 1 2 3 4 5
Axial Neck Extension Extension Flexion Flexion Flexion
Axial Trunk Flexion Flexion Extension Extension Extension
Right UE Glenohumeral Internal Internal Flexion External Flexion
rotation and rotation and (+scapular rotation and (+scapular
adduction adduction upwards further upwards
rotation) flexion rotation)
Humeroulnar Flexion Extension More Extension Slight
Extension Flexion
Forearm Neutral Pronation Supination Neutral Neutral
Wrist Neutral Flexion Extension Extension Neutral
MP (all digits) Flexion and Flexion and Flexion and Extension Extension
adduction adduction adduction
PIP, IP, & Extension Extension Extension Extension Flexion of
DIP (all digits 2-5
digits)
Left UE Shoulder Internal Internal Internal Internal Internal
rotation and rotation and rotation and rotation and rotation,
adduction adduction adduction adduction adduction,
and
extension
Elbow Flexion Flexion Flexion Flexion Flexion
Forearm Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral
Wrist Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral
MP (all digits) Flexion Flexion Flexion Flexion Flexion
PIP, IP, & Extension Extension Extension Extension Extension
DIP (all
digits)
Right LE Hip Flexion and More flexion Extension Extension Extension
adduction and external and external
rotation rotation
Knee Flexion Extension Extension Extension Extension
Talocrural Dorsiflexion Dorsiflexion Plantar Neutral Plantar
flexion flexion
Left LE Hip Neutral Extension Extension Extension Flexion
and external
rotation
Knee Slight Flexion Flexion Flexion Extension
flexion
Talocrural Neutral Plantar More Plantar Neutral Dorsiflexion
flexion flexion