Approximately 30 muscles are used to throw a football, mainly those in the hand, shoulder, arm, neck and back. In addition, the abdominal and leg muscles are peripherally involved to stabilize the core and twist the body prior to the throw to increase momentum. The more rotation that is added to the throw, the more force there will be behind the ball.
Upper Body
The muscles of the hand and fingers are used to grasp and then release the ball. During the throw, the biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles all work on extension and flexion. The deltoids and rotator cuff work to move the shoulder during the throw. The rotator cuffs keep the shoulder from dislocating during the move. Also used are the muscles of the back, latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior. Finally, the trapezius muscle in the neck plays a large part in the movement.
Lower Body
All the muscles in the leg are used for stability and to support the person making the throw. In addition to stability, twisting movements made during the throw are aided by the legs. If the back leg is lifted, the hip flexors and rectus formalis do that job. The quadriceps work to extend the knee and the gluteal muscles help extend the hip.
Core Muscles
The abdominal muscles and obliques are used not only for stability during the throw, but also to rotate the trunk in the direction of the throw. This torsion allows more momentum to be put into the throw, giving it more speed and power. The trunk stabilization muscles keep the body upright during the entire move, then bring the body back to the starting position after the ball is released.
Eye Muscles
It's hard to throw a ball with any accuracy if you can't see where you are throwing it. The extraocular muscles are highly involved in throwing a football. These six muscles move constantly to find your target before the throw and to keep your eyes focused on the ball as it tracks through the air. The six muscles are the superior rectus, the inferior rectus, the lateral rectus, the medial rectus, the superior oblique and the inferior oblique.
References
- "Football For Dummies"; Howie Long, John Czarnecki, 2007
- American College of Sports Medicine Resources for the Personal Trainer, 2007
- "Strength Training Anatomy"; Frederic Delavier; 2006
- Madsci Network: How Many Muscles Do You Use To Throw A Football?
- Innerbody.com: Muscular System Front View
- "Kinetic Anatomy"; Robert S. Behnke; 2006
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