Types of Movement in Sport (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))

Basic Movements in Sport

• Different types of movement in sport can be grouped into different categories:

  • Flexion/extension

  • Abduction/adduction

  • Rotation

  • Circumduction

  • Plantar flexion/dorsiflexion

• These types of movement are covered in more detail in The Structure & Functions of the Musculoskeletal System topic

Examples of types of movement in sport

Push-ups

• A push-up is divided into two stages:

  • Pushing up

    • The elbow joint straightens to lift the body during extension

  • Lowering down

    • The elbow joint bends back to the original position during flexion

Push-up movement diagram

Extension of the elbow joint occurs during a push up and flexion occurs during lowering down

Football throw-in

• When throwing a ball onto the pitch the player should hold the ball with both hands and start with it behind the head

• The ball is then thrown from behind and over the head using both hands; this movement requires the extension of the elbow joint

Football throw-in movement diagram

Extension of the elbow joint occurs during the throw-in

Running

• While running movements occur at the hip, knee, and ankle joints

• When the performer's foot contacts the ground, the performer propels themselves forward; this is known as the drive phase of running:

  • The knee joint straightens during extension

  • The hip extends

  • The ankle joint is in plantar flexion

• Following the drive phase, there is the recovery phase; the leg is brought forward to initiate another stride:

  • The knee joint bends in a flexion movement

  • The hip flexes

  • The ankle joint adjusts in a dorsiflexion movement

• When one leg is in the drive phase, the other leg is in the recovery phase

Running movement diagram

Movement in the hip, knee and ankle are different in the drive phase and the recovery phase of running

Kicking

• Kicking is similar to the drive phase of running

• The leg swings backwards in preparation, then it swings forwards and straightens as the foot contacts the ball

  • The knee joint moves from bent to straight in an extension movement

  • The hip is in flexion

  • The ankle joint is in plantar flexion throughout the whole movement

Kicking movement diagram

In a kick the knee extends whilst the hip flexes and the ankle remains in plantar flexion

Standing vertical jumps

• In a standing vertical jump the performer stands with feet shoulder-width apart and knees bent

• They then propel themselves vertically upwards through the hips, knees and ankles

  • The hip extends

  • There is extension in the knee joints

  • Plantar flexion occurs at the ankle joint

Standing vertical jump movement diagram

Vertical jumps involve extension in the knee and hip and plantar flexion at the ankle

Star jumps

• When performing a star jump the performer should start with feet together and arms by their side

• They then jump vertically into the air at the same time as spreading legs and arms to the sides to make a star shape

  • This is abduction at the shoulder and the arms and legs move away from the body

• As the performer descends back to the ground the arms move back to their side and the legs move back together

  • This is adduction at the shoulder and the arms and legs move towards the body

Star jump movement diagram

Abduction and adduction of the arms and legs occurs during a star jump

Squats

• In a squat, the performer should stand with feet shoulder-width apart

• There is a downward and an upward phase

  • The downward phase begins by bending at the hips and knees simultaneously to lower the body until the thighs are at least parallel to the ground

    • This gives a flexion movement in the hips

    • The knee joint is in flexion

    • Slight dorsiflexion is seen in the ankle joints

  • In the upward phase, the performer pushes back up through the heels and midfoot to the starting position

    • The hips extend

    • The knee joints extend

    • Slight plantar flexion occurs at the ankle joints

Squat movement diagram

Squats involve a downward and an upward phase which show different movement types in the hip, knee and ankle

Cricket bowling

• In cricket, the bowler runs up to the bowling crease and swings the dominant arm backward and then forward in a circular motion

  • This leads to rotation movement at the shoulder joint

  • Extension also occurs at the shoulder joint

  • Circumduction occurs at the shoulder and the arm moves in a circle

Cricket bowling movement diagram

Bowling in cricket uses rotation and extension movements in the shoulder, and circumduction in the arm

Swimming front crawl

• When swimming front crawl the swimmer lies face down in the water in a streamlined position

• The stroke is initiated when one arm reaches forward and into the water

• The arm then pulls back, making a sweeping movement in the water for propulsion

• The arm goes through a range of movement types:

  • When the arm bends upwards there is a flexion at the elbow

  • Reaching forward involves extension at the elbow

  • Abduction occurs at the shoulder and the arm sweeps away from the body

  • Adduction occurs at the shoulder and the arm pulls back towards the body

  • Circumduction at the shoulder means that the arm carries out a circular movement

Front crawl swimming movement diagram

Swimming front crawl involves circumduction in order to maximise propulsion