Which back muscles are listed for soccer muscle usage?

• A. Trapezius
• B. Rhomboids
• C. Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major
• D. Infraspinatus

Answer: (C)

In soccer, the back muscles that contribute most to generating strong, coordinated upper-body movements are the latissimus dorsi and teres major. The latissimus dorsi is a large muscle that extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm, while the teres major helps with these same actions and supports shoulder stability during arm movements. Together, they power actions that involve pulling the arm down and in, stabilizing the shoulder, and assisting with trunk rotation during dynamic movements like throwing in, rapid arm swings, and maintaining posture during sprinting and changes of direction. The trapezius and rhomboids mainly move and stabilize the scapula (lifting, pulling back, and retraction), which supports posture but doesn’t provide the same direct power for the common soccer actions described. The infraspinatus primarily enables external rotation of the shoulder, which is important for shoulder stability but not the dominant action used in typical soccer movements. So, the combination of latissimus dorsi and teres major best fits the back muscles most engaged in soccer-related actions.