Do muscles push or pull bones?

Muscles operate by pulling on bones rather than pushing them. When muscles contract, they shorten and create tension through their attachments to the skeleton via tendons. This contraction pulls the bones closer together, resulting in movement at the joints. This fundamental principle of muscle function is essential for understanding biomechanics in exercise and physical activity.

The concept of muscles pulling aligns with the structure of the human body and how movement occurs, as there are no muscle groups that can contract and exert force in a pushing manner against the bone. The way muscles are structured and their attachment points dictate that they can only generate a pulling force. This understanding is crucial for both fitness instruction and rehabilitation, as it informs how exercises are designed, how to prevent injuries, and how to promote effective movement patterns.