A solid golf swing is important for a good golf game. Muscles are needed to appropriately swing a golf club. There are many muscles involved with the entire golf swing. One of the specific motions of the golf swing is the bending of the left arm at the elbow. The muscles involved in bending the elbow are the biceps brachii, brachioradialis and brachialis, according to the Kidport Reference Library.
The Elbow
The elbow is a joint that connects the lower arm with the upper arm. Two bones in the lower arm, the radius and ulna, are integrated with the humerus bone of the upper arm. A sequence of muscles, ligaments and tendons connects the bones. The muscles of the upper arm cross over the elbow joint and attach to the lower-arm muscles. Likewise, lower-arm muscles traverse the elbow joint and connect to the muscles of the upper arm. This design allows for elbow stability and movement at the elbow.
How Muscles Work at the Elbow
Muscles often work in pairs. Flexor muscles contract to bend the arm, according to the American University. When extensor muscles contract, the flexor muscle relaxes and the arm straightens. For example, in the elbow, the biceps brachii, or the biceps, is the flexor muscle and the triceps brachi, or the triceps, is the extensor muscle.
Biceps Brachii
The biceps brachii muscle is in the front part of the arm. It has two bundles of muscle, or heads. The two heads of the biceps start at different points at the shoulder but end at the same location in the lower arm, according to the “American College of Sport’s Medicine’s Resources for the Personal Trainer.” Functionally, the biceps brachii is a powerful flexor of the arm at the elbow, especially when the palm is facing forward, or in supination position.
Brachioradialis
The brachioradialis is a muscle of the lower arm that flexes the lower arm at the elbow. When the palms are facing forward, the brachioradialis is located on the part of the lower arm that is farthest from the rest of the body, as illustrated by the “American College of Sport’s Medicine’s Resources for the Personal Trainer.” The brachioradialis is attached to the radius bone in the lower arm and to the humerus in the upper arm.
Brachialis
The brachialis is a muscle located in the upper arm that assists the biceps brachii in flexing the arm at the elbow. It connects to the humerus bone of the upper arm and the ulna in the lower arm, according to “American College of Sport’s Medicine’s Resources for the Personal Trainer.” The brachialis is situated deeper in the arm than the biceps brachii.
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