GLOSSARY

Sports anatomy is an applied branch of anatomy that studies the structure of the body with a focus on movement, athletic performance, and sports injuries.
In this approach, every bone, joint, and muscle is examined not only for its shape and location but also for its role in movement and the loads it bears in sport.

Main Areas

• Functional anatomy: which muscle plays the main role in which movement and exercise.
• Biomechanics: the study of forces, levers, and joint angles in sporting movements.
• Injury anatomy: knowing which structures are most often injured in each sport, such as the cruciate ligament in football or the rotator cuff in swimming.

Application

For example, a weightlifting coach who knows that the gluteus maximus and hamstrings are the main hip extensors can choose a suitable accessory exercise to improve the deadlift, and a physiotherapist who understands the structure of the ankle can design a return-to-play program after a sprain.

Key Teaching Point

Sports anatomy is a bridge between the basic sciences and the training field; its aim is to support performance enhancement, injury prevention, and the rehabilitation of athletes.