A Kinematic Analysis of a Standing Soccer Throw-In

James Bowles, Johnson Noel, Ryan Price, DeVaughn Edwards

A standing Soccer throw-in involves an athlete throwing a ball into the field of play
without any form of run up taking place whilst both feet remain on the ground firmly with the
ball coming from behind their head and projected forward over their head.
It involves an open kinematic chain type movement in multiple planes across multiple
joints with the assistance of many muscles and ligaments for control, stabilization, and power
of the upper body throughout the entire throw. The following is a break down of each joint’s
Osteokinematics and Arthrokinematics along with the muscles and connective tissues utilized.

Elbow Joints:

Osteokinematics- The sagittal plane is the plane of motion used to perform the flexion and
extension at this hinge joint required for bringing the hands together over the head to grasp the
ball. There is slight radius pronation during the motion too and that's a pivot type joint.

Arthrokinematics- The radius and ulna bones have concave proximal ends while the Humerus
has a convex distal end. The radius and ulna bones roll and slide in the same direction
superiorly over the convex surface of the distal humerus end, which demonstrates the
mechanics of a concave on convex relationship. The radius will rotate/spin internally over the
ulna. These same patterns of glide and roll occur during the extension throwing phase too.

Muscles involved- Biceps Brachii (long and short heads), Brachialis, and Brachioradialis for
flexion. Pronator Teres for pronation. The Triceps Brachii and muscles of supination are
antagonist to the flexors involved. During the throwing phase the muscle groups are reversed
so that the agonists become the antagonists and antagonists become the agonists.

Ligaments involved- Medial (ulnar) Collateral Ligament stabilizes the ulnar to the humerus,
Lateral (radial) Collateral Ligament stabilizes the radius to the humerus, and the Annular
Ligament stabilizes the radius to the ulnar. These same ligaments keep the elbow stable during
the throwing phase too.
Joint Capsule- This synovial capsule is reinforced on the sides by the medial and lateral
collateral ligaments but, lacks good ligamentous protection from the anterior and posterior
aspects. The synovial membrane starts above the olecranon fossa and goes just distal to the
radioulnar joint. The same membrane encompasses the synovial fluid for both the elbow and
radioulnar joints. There is hyaline (articular) cartilage on the surfaces of all three bones inside
the capsule to reduce friction.

Gleno-humeral Joints:

Osteokinematics- The sagittal and coronal planes are both utilized in this ball and socket joint
due to flexion/extension and abduction/adduction occurring simultaneously during the motion
of raising the ball back above the head and when throwing the ball forward over the head.

Arthrokinematics- The humerus has a convex proximal head while the scapula has a concave
socket. The flexion and abduction components cause the humerus head to roll superiorly but
glide inferiorly which demonstrates the opposite roll/glide mechanics of a convex on concave
relationship. The extension and adduction components cause the humerus head to roll
inferiorly and glide superiorly which is the reverse pattern to flexion and abduction.

Muscles involved- Pectoralis major, Coracobrachialis, Biceps Brachii (long head), and the
anterior fibers of the Deltoid for flexion of this joint. Supraspinatus and Deltoid cause abduction
to occur. Depending on how high the player raises their arms during the movement, the
Trapezius and Serratus Anterior may also assist abduction when the shoulder is abducted above
90 degrees by rotating the scapula upward. During the throwing phase the Latissimus Dorsi,
Teres Major, Triceps Brachii (long head), and the posterior fibers of the Deltoid all cause
extension and adduction of the arm. Infraspinatous and Pectoralis Minor assist with the
adduction only, not extension.

Ligaments involved- Transverse Humeral Ligament holds the tendon of the Biceps long head
against the humerus in the groove between the greater and lesser tubercle. Superior, middle,
and inferior Glenohumeral Ligaments hold the humerus head against the scapula’s glenoid
cavity to prevent dislocation during abduction and adduction. Coracohumeral Ligament
stabilizes the capsule during flexion and extension. There are other ligaments in the shoulder
that help stabilize the clavicle (coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular) but, they won’t be
stressed during this movement. They will only be used to keep the clavicle stationary.

Joint capsule- This synovial capsule is fairly loose compared to other joints in the body which
allows for good range of motion but, makes it susceptible to dislocation and injury. The tendon
of the Biceps long head runs through this capsule to attached to the supraglenoid tubercle. The
joint capsule is surround by Bursae (subacromial, subcoracoid, subscapular, and coracobrachial)
that aid in movement and decreasing friction between all the surrounding ligaments and
muscles. Hyaline (articular) cartilage is on the head of the humerus while the glenoid cavity
contains the glenoid labrum which is a slightly different type of fibrocartilage used not only to
reduce friction but to also deepen the cavity for extra support.
 After looking at all the Osteokinematics and Arthrokinematics for both joints involved in
a standing soccer throw-in, we can appreciate the complexity of this movement that seems so
simple when performing it as an athlete. If we gave the athlete a chance to perform a run-up
before throwing the ball then the complexity would increase even more by bringing in hip and
knee movements. Below are some images of the joint structures to give a visual perspective to
the verbal material above.