
The human body consists of four common muscle synergies, or subsystems, that work together to create coordinated movements. The global muscular system is responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities and consists of large superficial musculature, such as the rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, and external obliques. The local muscular system, on the other hand, provides stability and support during joint motion and includes muscles such as the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor. Both systems must work together for efficient normal function and optimal movement and performance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The global muscular system is responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities and consists of large superficial musculature. |
| Muscles | Erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, obliques, rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, external obliques, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and gluteal muscles. |
| Function | Global muscles are responsible for the production and control of the range and direction of movement. |
| Training | Core training with PAP can improve power, agility, and speed by modifying force absorption, active joint stabilization, and movement patterns. |
| Comparison with Local Muscles | Local muscles provide stability and support during joint motion, whereas global muscles produce gross movements. |
| Role in Stability | Global muscles are less effective than local muscles in controlling shear loads and can impose excessive loads on the spine if activated in the presence of dysfunction. |
| Dysfunction | Global muscle dysfunction can be identified through clinical prediction rules, such as the presence of aberrant movement during the spinal range of motion. |
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What You'll Learn
- Global muscles are responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities
- They primarily consist of large superficial musculature
- They are involved in both non-fatiguing low load and fatiguing high-load activities
- Global muscles are direction-specific in their anticipatory feedforward responses
- They are responsible for the production and control of the range of motion

Global muscles are responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities
Global muscles are those that are responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities. They are also known as superficial muscles and consist of large superficial musculature, such as the rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, and external obliques. The global muscular system works in contrast to the local muscular system, which provides stability and support during joint motion. Local muscles are usually located close to the joint, like the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor.
Global muscles are involved in both non-fatiguing low-load and fatiguing high-load activities. They can change length significantly and are therefore considered the muscles of range of motion. For example, the obliques, in concert with the adductor complex, produce rotational and flexion movements and help stabilize the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex.
The global muscular system is essential for optimal movement and performance. Training the global muscles can improve power, agility, and speed. For instance, core strength exercises have been shown to improve the quality of explosive force in throwing athletes, increasing grip strength and vertical jump height.
However, it is important to note that the local and global muscle systems must work together for efficient normal function. The inclusion of global muscles too early in rehabilitation programs can be detrimental, as local muscles are superior in controlling shear loads. Dysfunction in global muscles can also lead to low back problems, requiring specific motor control and muscle activation training.
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They primarily consist of large superficial musculature
Global muscles are responsible for the production and control of the range and direction of movement. They are also involved in both non-fatiguing low-load and fatiguing high-load activities. The global muscular system is responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities and primarily consist of large superficial musculature. These include muscles such as the rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, external obliques, erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, and rectus femoris.
The rectus abdominis, for example, is a large, band-like pair of muscles that extend from the pubic bone up to the rib cage. They are responsible for flexing the lumbar spine and maintaining posture, among other functions. The latissimus dorsi, on the other hand, is a large, flat muscle that stretches from the upper arms down to the hips and attaches to the spine. It is involved in various movements, including pulling the arm down and rotating it medially, as well as breathing.
The external obliques are a pair of muscles located on the sides and front of the abdomen. They are responsible for various functions, including trunk flexion, rotation, and side bending. These muscles work together with the internal obliques to provide rotational and flexion movements and are crucial for stabilizing the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex.
The erector spinae and quadratus lumborum are also part of the global muscular system. The erector spinae is a set of muscles and tendons that run along the spine, responsible for extension, lateral flexion, and rotation of the spine. The quadratus lumborum is a deep abdominal muscle that aids in spinal stabilization and lateral flexion and extension of the spine.
These large superficial muscles are essential for producing significant movements and providing stability to the body during functional activities. They work in synergy with other muscles to create coordinated movements, and their length and tension properties are crucial for their function. The proper activation and recruitment of these muscles are vital for optimal movement and performance.
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They are involved in both non-fatiguing low load and fatiguing high-load activities
The global muscular system is responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities. It consists of large superficial musculature, such as the rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, and external obliques. These muscles are involved in both non-fatiguing low-load and fatiguing high-load activities.
The global muscle system plays a crucial role in producing and controlling the range and direction of movement. These muscles can change length significantly, which makes them essential for the range of motion. Global muscles work in synergy with other muscles to create coordinated movements. They are not isolated from the rest of the muscular system and must work together with local muscles for efficient normal function.
Local muscles, on the other hand, are responsible for providing stability and support during joint motion. They are usually located close to the joints, such as the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor muscles. While global muscles are involved in a wide range of movements, local muscles ensure stability and control during specific joint motions.
The distinction between global and local muscles is important in understanding movement and designing training programs. For example, in rehabilitation settings, the initial focus is often on local muscle dysfunction and specific motor control exercises. This helps to enhance stability and protect the spine from excessive loads. Only after this initial phase are global muscles included with exercises that involve heavier loads and more dynamic movements.
The interplay between global and local muscles is complex and interdependent. While global muscles provide the range of motion, local muscles contribute to stability and control. Together, they enable functional stability and efficient movement patterns. This understanding of muscle synergies has important implications for fitness and sports performance programs, emphasizing the incorporation of specific movement patterns and multi-joint, multiplanar exercises.
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Global muscles are direction-specific in their anticipatory feedforward responses
Global muscles are those that are responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities. They are predominantly made up of large superficial musculature, such as the rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, and external obliques.
The anticipatory feedforward responses of global muscles, such as the transversus abdominis (TrA), are directionally specific and act asymmetrically. This means that the activation of these muscles is specific to the direction of the movement of the limbs. For example, during rapid arm raising, the TrA demonstrates different activity depending on whether the arm is being raised to the left or right. This directional specificity has been observed in the feedforward activation of the TrA during unilateral arm raising, where the ipsilateral biceps femoris and obliquus externus, and contralateral obliquus internus (OI) and TrA, are activated earlier than the alternate side for both right and left arm movements.
The directional specificity of global muscle feedforward responses suggests that these muscles contribute to stability through simultaneous bilateral feedforward activation. This is particularly important for the stability of the lumbar spine, where deep trunk muscles like the TrA play a significant role. The feedforward mechanism helps to stabilize the trunk before movement occurs, providing a stable base and allowing for the correction of reactive forces that may cause instability.
The direction-specific anticipatory feedforward responses of global muscles have important implications for core stability theories and therapeutic approaches. For instance, the interpretation of the TrA's role as a bilateral stabilizer during anticipatory postural adjustments may need to be revised in light of the observed directional specificity. Furthermore, understanding the directional specificity of global muscle responses can inform the design of exercises and training programs aimed at improving core stability, performance, and injury prevention.
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They are responsible for the production and control of the range of motion
The global muscle system is responsible for the production and control of the range and direction of movement. Global muscles can change length significantly, and they participate in both non-fatiguing low-load and fatiguing high-load activities. They are also responsible for the movement of the trunk and extremities and primarily consist of large superficial musculature, such as the rectus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, and external obliques.
The global muscle system works in conjunction with the local muscle system to achieve efficient normal function. The local muscle system provides stability and support during joint motion and is usually located in close proximity to the joint, such as the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor.
The core, which includes both local and global muscles, is essential for stabilising the trunk while the arms and legs move during functional movements. The abdominal muscles, for example, create a rigid cylinder around the spine during movement, providing stability and protecting the spine from excessive loads.
When rehabilitating patients with low back dysfunction, it is important to first focus on specific motor control exercises for the local muscles before progressing to global muscle exercises. This is because local muscles are superior in controlling shear loads, and the unnecessary activation of global muscles may impose excessive compressive loads on the spine.
By understanding the role of global and local muscles, practitioners can design effective training and rehabilitation programs that optimise movement and performance.
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Frequently asked questions
Global muscles are the muscles that make up the global muscle system and are responsible for the production and control of the range and direction of movement.
Examples of global muscles include the erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, obliques, and rectus abdominis.
Global muscles work in synergy with local muscles to create coordinated movements. They are direction-specific in their anticipatory feedforward responses.











































