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This lesson covers all eight movements at joints as required by the Edexcel GCSE PE specification (1PE0 — Topic 1: Applied Anatomy and Physiology). You need to be able to define each movement, identify which joints allow it, and apply each movement to sporting examples. The Edexcel specification requires all eight movements including plantarflexion and dorsiflexion.
| Movement | Definition | Joint(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion | Decreasing the angle at a joint | Shoulder, hip, knee, elbow, wrist |
| Extension | Increasing the angle at a joint | Shoulder, hip, knee, elbow, wrist |
| Abduction | Movement away from the midline of the body | Shoulder, hip, wrist |
| Adduction | Movement towards the midline of the body | Shoulder, hip, wrist |
| Rotation | Movement of a bone around its long axis | Shoulder, hip, neck (pivot) |
| Circumduction | A combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction creating a cone-shaped movement | Shoulder, hip |
| Plantarflexion | Pointing the toes downward (extending the ankle) | Ankle |
| Dorsiflexion | Pulling the toes upward (flexing the ankle) | Ankle |
Exam Tip: You must use the terms plantarflexion and dorsiflexion when describing movements at the ankle — do not write "flexion" or "extension" of the ankle. Edexcel examiners specifically require these terms.
Flexion is a movement that decreases the angle between two bones at a joint. Think of it as folding or bending a joint.
| Sporting Action | Joint | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling back the arm to throw | Shoulder | The angle between the humerus and the trunk decreases |
| Bending the arm during a bicep curl | Elbow | The angle between the humerus and the radius/ulna decreases |
| Bringing the knee up when running | Hip | The angle between the femur and the pelvis decreases |
| Bending the knee before a jump | Knee | The angle between the femur and the tibia decreases |
| Cocking the wrist back in badminton | Wrist | The angle at the wrist decreases |
graph LR
A["Joint in<br>extended position"] -->|"Angle decreases"| B["Joint in<br>flexed position"]
style A fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
style B fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
Extension is a movement that increases the angle between two bones at a joint. It is the opposite of flexion — think of it as straightening or opening a joint.
| Sporting Action | Joint | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Follow-through when throwing | Shoulder | The angle between the humerus and the trunk increases |
| Straightening the arm at the top of a bicep curl | Elbow | The angle between the humerus and the radius/ulna increases |
| Driving the leg backwards in sprinting | Hip | The angle between the femur and the pelvis increases |
| Straightening the leg to kick a ball | Knee | The angle between the femur and the tibia increases |
Exam Tip: Many exam questions involve identifying flexion and extension in a sporting action. Remember: if the angle is getting smaller, it is flexion. If the angle is getting bigger, it is extension. Imagine placing a protractor at the joint.
Abduction is a movement away from the midline of the body. Think of "abducting" — taking away from the centre.
| Sporting Action | Joint | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Star jump — arms moving outwards | Shoulder | The arm moves away from the side of the body |
| Star jump — legs moving outwards | Hip | The leg moves away from the midline |
| Goalkeeper stretching arms wide | Shoulder | The arms move away from the body |
| Performing the splits | Hip | The legs move away from the midline |
Adduction is a movement towards the midline of the body. It is the opposite of abduction — think of "adding" the limb back to the body.
| Sporting Action | Joint | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Returning to standing from a star jump | Shoulder and hip | The arms and legs return to the midline |
| Pulling a rowing oar towards the body | Shoulder | The arm moves towards the midline |
| A swimmer bringing arms together in breaststroke | Shoulder | The arms adduct through the water |
| Bringing the legs together after a stride | Hip | The legs return to the midline |
Exam Tip: To distinguish abduction and adduction, remember: ab = away, ad = add (towards). Many students confuse these — practise identifying them in different sports.
Rotation is the movement of a bone turning around its long axis. It can be internal (inward) or external (outward) rotation.
| Sporting Action | Joint | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Turning the head to look for a pass | Neck (pivot) | The atlas rotates around the axis |
| Winding up for a discus throw | Hip and shoulder | The trunk and arm rotate around their long axes |
| A golf swing | Hip and shoulder | Rotation of the trunk generates power |
| Forehand in tennis | Shoulder | The shoulder rotates as the arm swings across the body |
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