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This lesson covers the three axes of rotation as required by the OCR GCSE PE specification (J587). You need to understand what an axis of rotation is, know the three axes (frontal/transverse, transverse/frontal, and longitudinal), understand how each axis relates to a specific plane of movement, and apply this to sporting examples.
An axis of rotation is an imaginary line around which the body (or a body part) rotates. When a movement occurs in a plane, the body rotates around an axis that passes through the body perpendicular (at right angles) to that plane.
Think of an axis as a skewer through the body — the body turns around the skewer.
graph TD
A["Axes of Rotation"] --> B["Transverse Axis<br>(horizontal, side to side)"]
A --> C["Frontal Axis<br>(horizontal, front to back)"]
A --> D["Longitudinal Axis<br>(vertical, top to bottom)"]
style A fill:#4a90d9,color:#fff
style B fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
style C fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
style D fill:#9b59b6,color:#fff
The transverse axis runs horizontally from side to side through the body (like a skewer going from one hip to the other, or through the elbow, knee, etc.).
The transverse axis is associated with the sagittal plane. Movements in the sagittal plane (flexion and extension) occur around the transverse axis.
Imagine a horizontal bar running from left to right through your waist. Your body can tip forward (flexion) or backward (extension) around this bar — like a gymnast rotating on a horizontal bar.
| Sporting Action | Movement | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Performing a somersault | Flexion/extension of the whole body | The body rotates forward or backward around an axis running from side to side through the hips |
| Kicking a football | Flexion/extension at the knee | The lower leg rotates around the transverse axis at the knee joint |
| Performing a bicep curl | Flexion/extension at the elbow | The forearm rotates around the transverse axis at the elbow |
| A sit-up | Flexion at the hip | The trunk rotates forward around the transverse axis at the hip |
| Running (leg action) | Flexion/extension at the hip and knee | The legs swing forward and backward around transverse axes at the hip and knee |
Exam Tip: Any movement involving flexion or extension occurs in the sagittal plane around the transverse axis. This is the pairing you must remember: sagittal plane + transverse axis.
The frontal axis (also called the sagittal axis or anteroposterior axis) runs horizontally from front to back through the body (like a skewer going from your belly button through to your back).
The frontal axis is associated with the frontal plane. Movements in the frontal plane (abduction and adduction) occur around the frontal axis.
Imagine a horizontal bar running from the front of your body through to the back, at waist height. Your body can tilt to the side (like a cartwheel) around this bar.
| Sporting Action | Movement | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Performing a cartwheel | Abduction/adduction at the hip and shoulder | The body rotates sideways around an axis running front to back |
| Star jump (jumping jack) | Abduction/adduction at shoulder and hip | Arms and legs move away from and towards the midline, rotating around the frontal axis |
| Goalkeeping — reaching sideways for a save | Abduction at the shoulder | The arm moves sideways around the frontal axis at the shoulder |
| Side-stepping | Abduction at the hip | The leg moves sideways around the frontal axis at the hip |
The longitudinal axis runs vertically from top to bottom through the body (like a skewer going from the top of your head down through your feet).
The longitudinal axis is associated with the transverse plane. Movements in the transverse plane (rotation) occur around the longitudinal axis.
Imagine a vertical pole running from the crown of your head down through your body to the floor. Your body can spin around this pole — like an ice skater performing a pirouette.
| Sporting Action | Movement | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Ice skating spin / pirouette | Rotation of the whole body | The body spins around a vertical axis from head to feet |
| Golf swing | Rotation at the hip and shoulder | The trunk twists around the longitudinal axis |
| Discus throw (spinning) | Rotation of the whole body | The thrower spins around their longitudinal axis before releasing |
| Ballet turn | Rotation of the whole body | The dancer spins on one foot around a vertical axis |
| Turning to pass in basketball | Rotation at the hip/trunk | The upper body twists around the longitudinal axis |
Exam Tip: Any movement involving rotation or twisting occurs in the transverse plane around the longitudinal axis. This is the pairing: transverse plane + longitudinal axis.
This is the most important table in this lesson. You MUST memorise these pairings:
| Plane | Axis | Movements | Sporting Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sagittal | Transverse | Flexion, extension | Somersault, bicep curl, kicking |
| Frontal | Frontal | Abduction, adduction | Cartwheel, star jump |
| Transverse | Longitudinal | Rotation | Golf swing, pirouette, discus spin |
graph LR
A["Sagittal Plane"] --- B["Transverse Axis"]
C["Frontal Plane"] --- D["Frontal Axis"]
E["Transverse Plane"] --- F["Longitudinal Axis"]
style A fill:#4a90d9,color:#fff
style B fill:#4a90d9,color:#fff
style C fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
style D fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
style E fill:#9b59b6,color:#fff
style F fill:#9b59b6,color:#fff
A useful way to remember the pairings is that the axis is always perpendicular to the plane:
Another mnemonic: "SaT, FrF, TrL"
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