PE11: Movement Analysis in Sport
Identifying types of movement at specific joints during a range of sporting actions.
🔄 Flexion and Extension at the Shoulder
Shoulder joint: Ball-and-socket joint allowing a wide range of movement including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation and circumduction.
| Movement | Description | Muscles Involved | Sporting Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexion at shoulder | Moving the arm forwards and upwards | Anterior deltoids, pectorals | Bowling in cricket - the arm swings forwards and upwards to release the ball |
| Extension at shoulder | Moving the arm backwards and downwards | Latissimus dorsi, posterior deltoids | Follow-through after bowling in cricket - arm continues backwards and down |
| Abduction at shoulder | Moving the arm away from the body sideways | Deltoids (middle fibres) | Star jump - arms raised out to the sides |
| Adduction at shoulder | Moving the arm towards the body from the side | Pectorals, latissimus dorsi | Bringing arms down from a star jump position |
Bowling in Cricket - Shoulder Movement
Run-up and preparation: The bowler's bowling arm extends behind the body (extension at the shoulder, using latissimus dorsi).
Delivery: The arm swings forwards and upwards over the head (flexion at the shoulder, using anterior deltoids and pectorals).
Follow-through: The arm continues past the release point and swings down and back (extension at the shoulder).
💪 Flexion and Extension at the Elbow
Elbow joint: Hinge joint allowing only flexion and extension.
| Movement | Description | Muscles Involved | Sporting Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexion at elbow | Bending the elbow, decreasing the angle | Biceps (agonist), brachialis | Bicep curl - lifting the weight; pulling phase of a chin-up |
| Extension at elbow | Straightening the elbow, increasing the angle | Triceps (agonist) | Pushing phase of a press-up; throwing a javelin |
Bicep Curl - Elbow Movement
Lifting phase (upward): The biceps contracts concentrically to flex the elbow. The triceps relaxes (antagonist). The angle at the elbow decreases.
Lowering phase (downward): The triceps contracts concentrically to extend the elbow. The biceps relaxes (antagonist). The angle at the elbow increases. (Alternatively, if lowering slowly and controlled, the biceps works eccentrically.)
🦵 Flexion and Extension at the Hip
Hip joint: Ball-and-socket joint allowing flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation and circumduction.
| Movement | Description | Muscles Involved | Sporting Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexion at hip | Lifting the leg forwards and upwards | Iliopsoas (hip flexors), rectus femoris | Kicking a football - the kicking leg swings forwards; high knee drive in sprinting |
| Extension at hip | Moving the leg backwards | Gluteals, hamstrings | Driving phase of sprinting - the leg pushes back off the ground; rising from a squat |
Kicking a Football - Hip Movement
Preparation: The kicking leg extends behind the body (hip extension, using gluteals and hamstrings) to wind up for the kick.
Forward swing: The leg swings forwards rapidly (hip flexion, using iliopsoas and rectus femoris) to strike the ball with maximum force.
Follow-through: The leg continues forwards and upwards (further hip flexion) to maintain momentum and accuracy.
🦿 Flexion and Extension at the Knee
Knee joint: Hinge joint (modified) allowing primarily flexion and extension, with slight rotation when flexed.
| Movement | Description | Muscles Involved | Sporting Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexion at knee | Bending the knee, decreasing the angle | Hamstrings (agonist) | Downward phase of a squat; bending the knee before a long jump; pulling heels towards buttocks |
| Extension at knee | Straightening the knee, increasing the angle | Quadriceps (agonist) | Upward phase of a squat; kicking a football; rising from a chair |
Squat - Knee Movement
Downward phase: The knees flex (hamstrings contract, quadriceps work eccentrically to control the descent). The angle at the knee decreases as the body lowers.
Upward phase: The knees extend (quadriceps contract concentrically, hamstrings relax). The angle at the knee increases as the body rises back to standing.
🤸 Abduction and Adduction at the Shoulder
Abduction = moving a limb away from the midline of the body.
Adduction = moving a limb towards the midline of the body.
Adduction = moving a limb towards the midline of the body.
Star Jump - Shoulder Movement
Jumping out: The arms abduct at the shoulder (deltoids contract) - they move away from the body's midline and rise sideways.
Coming back: The arms adduct at the shoulder (pectorals and latissimus dorsi contract) - they return to the sides of the body towards the midline.
🦶 Plantar Flexion and Dorsiflexion at the Ankle
Ankle joint: Hinge joint allowing plantar flexion (pointing foot down) and dorsiflexion (pulling foot up).
| Movement | Description | Muscles Involved | Sporting Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plantar flexion | Pointing the foot downward; rising onto toes | Gastrocnemius, soleus | Sprint start - pushing off the blocks; jumping in basketball; rising onto toes in ballet |
| Dorsiflexion | Pulling the foot upward towards the shin | Tibialis anterior | Lifting the foot when walking uphill; keeping toes up during a football dribble; recovery phase of running |
Running - Ankle Movement
During the running gait cycle, the ankle constantly alternates between plantar flexion and dorsiflexion:
- Push-off phase: Plantar flexion - the gastrocnemius contracts to push the foot off the ground, propelling the body forwards
- Recovery phase (swing): Dorsiflexion - the tibialis anterior contracts to lift the foot, preventing the toes from dragging on the ground
- Heel strike: Dorsiflexion positions the foot to land heel-first
📊 Complete Movement Analysis Table
| Sporting Action | Joint | Movement | Agonist Muscle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling in cricket (forward swing) | Shoulder | Flexion | Anterior deltoids, pectorals |
| Bicep curl (lifting) | Elbow | Flexion | Biceps |
| Press-up (pushing up) | Elbow | Extension | Triceps |
| Kicking a football (forward swing) | Hip | Flexion | Iliopsoas (hip flexors) |
| Sprint drive phase | Hip | Extension | Gluteals, hamstrings |
| Squat (standing up) | Knee | Extension | Quadriceps |
| Squat (going down) | Knee | Flexion | Hamstrings |
| Star jump (arms out) | Shoulder | Abduction | Deltoids |
| Star jump (arms down) | Shoulder | Adduction | Pectorals, latissimus dorsi |
| Sprint start (push-off) | Ankle | Plantar flexion | Gastrocnemius |
| Walking uphill (foot lift) | Ankle | Dorsiflexion | Tibialis anterior |
❓ Practice Questions
Q1: Identify the joint, movement and agonist muscle when a cricketer bowls the ball forward.
Q2: Describe the movement at the knee during the upward phase of a squat and name the agonist muscle.
Q3: What movement occurs at the shoulder during the arm-raising phase of a star jump? Name the agonist muscle.
Q4: Explain the difference between plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, giving a sporting example of each.
Q5: Describe the movement at the hip when a footballer kicks a ball and name the agonist and antagonist muscles.
Q6: During a press-up, describe the movement at the elbow when pushing up and state the agonist muscle.
✅ Answers
- Joint: Shoulder (ball-and-socket). Movement: Flexion (the arm swings forwards and upwards). Agonist: Anterior deltoids and pectorals.
- Movement: Extension at the knee (the angle increases as the leg straightens). Agonist: Quadriceps contract concentrically.
- Movement: Abduction at the shoulder (the arms move away from the midline of the body). Agonist: Deltoids (middle fibres).
- Plantar flexion is pointing the foot downward (e.g. rising onto toes in a sprint start, using the gastrocnemius). Dorsiflexion is pulling the foot upward towards the shin (e.g. lifting the foot when walking uphill, using the tibialis anterior).
- Movement: Flexion at the hip (the leg swings forwards). Agonist: Iliopsoas (hip flexors). Antagonist: Gluteals (relax to allow the hip to flex).
- Movement: Extension at the elbow (the arm straightens). Agonist: Triceps contracts concentrically to push the body upwards.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Always give: joint → movement → muscle, in that order
- Use the correct joint name (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle) - don't say "arm" or "leg"
- Use precise movement terms: flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, plantar flexion/dorsiflexion
- Name the specific muscle as the agonist - don't just say "the muscle"
- Practise analysing a range of sporting actions - this is a very common 4-6 mark question
- Remember: hinge joints (elbow, knee, ankle) only allow flexion/extension; ball-and-socket (shoulder, hip) allow all movements
📝 Exam Technique
PE Exam Tips — Movement Analysis in Sport:
1. For Movement Analysis in Sport questions, use subject-specific terminology precisely
2. Support every point with specific evidence or examples
3. Show balanced analysis — consider different perspectives before reaching a conclusion
4. Link your understanding of Movement Analysis in Sport to real-world contexts where possible
5. For longer answers, plan your response to address all parts of the question
1. For Movement Analysis in Sport questions, use subject-specific terminology precisely
2. Support every point with specific evidence or examples
3. Show balanced analysis — consider different perspectives before reaching a conclusion
4. Link your understanding of Movement Analysis in Sport to real-world contexts where possible
5. For longer answers, plan your response to address all parts of the question
⚠️ Common Errors
Watch Out!
Students often think second class levers are the most common in the body. Wrong: Second class levers are the most common in the body Correct: Third class levers are the most common in the human body (e.g. biceps curl, hamstring kick). They favour range of movement and speed over force.
Students often think the effort is always at the muscle. Wrong: The effort is always at the muscle Correct: The effort is where the muscle inserts on the bone, not where the muscle belly is. The insertion is usually close to the joint (fulcrum), creating a third class lever.
Students often think planes and axes are the same thing. Wrong: Planes and axes are the same thing Correct: A plane is a flat surface through which movement occurs (sagittal, frontal, transverse). An axis is a line around which the body rotates (transverse, sagittal, longitudinal). They always pair up differently.
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
6 marks: Explain how movement analysis in sport affects sporting performance.
Movement Analysis in Sport has significant effects on sporting performance. [Key concept 1]: explain the mechanism with specific detail. [Key concept 2]: how this applies in a named sporting example. [Key concept 3]: the relationship between this topic and overall performance. A grade 9 answer uses precise anatomical/physiological terminology, specific sporting examples, and evaluates the relative importance of different factors.
Mark scheme: 2 marks per explained point with specific evidence, evaluation for top marks
📊 AO Deep Dive
Assessment Objective Analysis
GCSE PE tests four AOs: AO1 (Knowledge, 30%) — recall facts about Movement Analysis in Sport including definitions, classifications and specific examples; AO2 (Application, 30%) — apply knowledge to sporting contexts and training scenarios; AO3 (Analysis and Evaluation, 25%) — analyse data (graphs, tables), evaluate training methods or strategies, and justify recommendations; AO4 (Practical, 15%) — demonstrate relevant skills. For grade 9, use precise terminology, support every point with named sporting examples, and evaluate rather than just describe. The difference between grade 5 and grade 9 is the quality of application and depth of evaluation.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
🎬 Video Resources
Ready to ace your GCSE PE exams?
Get the best revision books and guides to boost your grades.