Anterior chain

The anterior chain, which comprises the antagonists of the posterior chain, refers to the group of skeletal muscles that lies on the front of the human body. This includes the biceps, the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor (chest) muscles, the abdominals, the obliques, the serratus anterior, and the quadriceps.[1]

Beach muscles are muscles developed for the purpose of looking good and largely consist of the muscles of the anterior chain. This is because it is these muscles that are seen from the front (or in a mirror) and are thus the most noticeable to an observer.[2]

Often, these muscles are not emphasized by power lifters who aim exclusively to increase their maximal strength in the squat, deadlift, and bench press, or by athletes who seek to increase physical performance. They are overall not as important for pure physical performance as the posterior chain. It is however, necessary to train both the anterior chain and the posterior chain.

References
  1. Joanne Elphinston, Stability, Sport, and Performance Movement, p. 45, North Atlantic Books, 2008 ISBN 1556437463
  2. Bret Contreras, Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy, p. 87, Human Kinetics, 2013 ISBN 1450429297.
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