Prime mover muscles are also known as what type of muscles?

Prime mover muscles, also known as agonist muscles, are those that are primarily responsible for specific movements during an activity. When a muscle contracts to create a particular motion, it is acting as the primary force behind that movement, making it crucial for effective exercise execution or athletic performance.

For example, during a bicep curl, the biceps brachii is the prime mover because it is the muscle that contracts to lift the weight. This term helps differentiate these muscles from others that may assist or oppose the movement, such as stabilizing muscles or antagonistic muscles, which work in opposition to the prime mover.

Understanding the role of agonist muscles is essential in fitness and strength training, as it guides program design that effectively targets specific muscle groups while balancing the workload among opposing muscle groups.