(Pancake Spin Anatomy) Figure Skating, a sport where individuals perform some amazing manoeuvres and moves on figure skates. It’s is the first winter sport to be included in Olympic Games.
Spins are important element in Figure Skating. Pancake Spin is a type of ‘Sit Spin’ in which one leg is crossed over the other and the trunk is bent over it.
This incredible exhibition of balance and flexibility requires strength and flexibility in some important body muscles specially related to lower limb. This article will cover muscle anatomy behind Pancake Spin so you know which muscles to work on, for perfect execution of Pancake Spin.
Supporting Leg Muscles Lengthening while Contracting
Hamstrings:
Hamstrings act to extend the leg at the hip joint. During the Pancake Spin, the supporting leg is flexed at the hip joint hence the Hamstrings are lengthening but to achieve that half sited position, the Hamstrings contract too.
Adductor Magnus (Ischial Fibers):
The ischial fibers of Adductor Magnus act just like Hamstrings. These fibers also extend the leg at the hip joint and thus gets lengthened during Pancake Spin and during the lengthening, contracting to hold the position.
Gluteus Maximus:
It is also an extensor of the hip. That is why just like the above two extensors, it also gets lengthened and contracted at the same time.
Gluteus Medius (Posterior Fibers):
The posterior fibers of this muscle also follow the same trend of performing the same action and getting lengthened while being contracted.
Periformis:
It is an external rotator and abductor of the leg and gets lengthened while contracting.
Soleus:
Soleus is a strong plantarflexor of the foot. While executing the Pancake Spin, the whole body weight is on the supporting foot and it gets dorsiflexed a little and hence Soleus gets lengthened. But to limit the dorsiflexion, it has to contract.
Quadriceps Vasti:
The Vasti muscles are responsible for the extension of the knee but in Pancake Spin, the knee has to bend but not much. This is why this muscle is stretching while being contracted.
Top Leg Muscles Lengthening while Contracting
Adductor Magnus (Ischial Fibers):
Just like the one in supporting leg, the ischial fibers of the top leg Adductor Magnus are getting lengthened while being contracted as the leg gets flexed.
Gluteus Maximus:
Here, Gluteus Maximus not only performing the extension of the hip joint and while doing so, getting lengthened in Pancake Spin, but it is also externally rotating the leg so is contracting.
Gluteus Medius:
Extends the leg at hip joint against flexion. Gets lengthened in dling so. Contracts to hold the position.
Gluteus Minimus:
Just like Gluteus Medius, it also gets lengthened and contracted at the same time performing the same functions.
Piriformis:
As discussed above, it is an external rotator and abductor of the leg. It also gets stretched while being contracted.
Top Leg Muscles Lengthening
Quadriceps Vasti:
Vasti muscles that perform the extension of the knee are only being lengthened during this particular move in the top leg.
Read More: https://easyflexibilityblog.com/2021/12/30/pancake-spin-anatomy/
Muscles Stabilizing Supporting Leg
Gluteus Medius:
Gluteus Medius doesn’t allow the leg to get fully flexed at hip joint by extending it thus supports the leg.
Gluteus Minimus Pancake spin anatomy:
Gluteus Minimus also supports the supporting leg due to it being a hip stabilizer. Secondarily, it also performs hip extension and thus stabilizing it more against gravity.
Muscles Stabilizing Top Leg
Hamstrings Pancake spin anatomy:
Hamstrings act on the top leg to extend it against the flexed position, stabilizing the top leg in the process.
Sartorius:Pancake spin anatomy
It is both a hip and knee flexor that acts to stabilize the top leg too.