Movement Analysis: Joint Actions and Joint Types - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

16 original exam-style questions - 7 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

Download PDF Jump to mark scheme (page 8)Movement Analysis: Joint Actions and Joint Types revision guide

This topic is chapter 4 of GCSE Physical Education: Movement analysis Practice Book.

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2.4 Movement Analysis: Joint Actions and Joint Types

AQA 8582 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

Four joint actions are defined below.

(a)State what is meant by 'flexion'.(1)

(b)State what is meant by 'extension'.(1)

(c)State what is meant by 'abduction'.(1)

(d)State what is meant by 'adduction'.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 4 marks)

Which of the following joint actions would NOT be possible at a hinge joint such as the knee?

A) Flexion
B) Extension
C) Abduction
D) None of these; all are possible at a hinge joint

(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)

Table 1 gives four short descriptions of what a joint type allows or does not allow.

Table 1

Row	Description
(a)	Allows rotation only, and no other movement
(b)	Allows flexion, extension, abduction and adduction, but not rotation
(c)	Allows the greatest range of movement of any joint type, including full rotation
(d)	Allows flexion and extension only, in one plane, like a door hinge

(a)Name the joint type described in row (a).(1)

(b)Name the joint type described in row (b).(1)

(c)Name the joint type described in row (c).(1)

(d)Name the joint type described in row (d).(1)

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

From a hang on the rings, a gymnast lifts both straight legs together forward until they are horizontal in front of the body.

(Total for Question 4 is 2 marks)

During the leg kick in front crawl swimming, a swimmer's legs move up and down at the hip in a continuous, alternating pattern.

(Total for Question 5 is 2 marks)

Kwame is a goalkeeper. During a single diving save, his hip abducts and rotates to drive his body sideways, his shoulder flexes and abducts to reach the arm towards the ball, and his elbow extends to add to his reach.

Discuss how the different joint types found at Kwame's hip, shoulder and elbow allow him to combine these joint actions into a single diving save, and evaluate whether a goalkeeper's save would still be possible if the shoulder and hip were hinge joints instead of ball and socket joints.

(Total for Question 6 is 9 marks)

During the drive phase of a sprint start, a sprinter's foot presses hard against the blocks, with the ankle driving down and back as the foot leaves the ground.

(Total for Question 7 is 2 marks)

State the joint type found at the elbow, and name the ONE pair of joint actions it allows.

(Total for Question 8 is 2 marks)

Clearing a hurdle in the 110m hurdles race, a runner's lead leg lifts so that the toes pull up towards the shin just before the foot passes over the bar.

Identify the joint action taking place at the ankle, and identify the joint type at the ankle that allows this action.

(Total for Question 9 is 2 marks)

A badminton player snaps their wrist sideways during a smash, moving the hand towards the little-finger side and then towards the thumb side of the forearm. Which joint type at the wrist allows this side-to-side movement, in addition to flexion and extension, but not full rotation?

A) Hinge joint
B) Ball and socket joint
C) Pivot joint
D) Condyloid joint

(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)

During a badminton smash, a player's elbow rapidly extends to drive the racket forwards, while the wrist moves from extension into flexion and can also angle slightly side-to-side to control the racket face.

Analyse how the different joint types at the player's elbow and wrist each contribute to the smash, and discuss why the shot would be less controlled if the wrist were a hinge joint instead of a condyloid joint.

(Total for Question 11 is 6 marks)

Diagram 1 shows the same shoulder joint action shown two ways. In the side-view panel, the dashed arm shows the resting starting position and the solid arm shows the finishing position reached by following Arrow 1. In the front-view panel, the dashed arm shows the resting starting position and the solid arm shows the finishing position reached by following Arrow 2.

(a)Name the joint action and the plane of movement shown by Arrow 1.(2)

(b)Name the joint action and the plane of movement shown by Arrow 2.(2)

(c)Both arrows show the same shoulder joint moving from the same resting position, but the movements take place in different planes. Explain why this is possible at the shoulder.(2)

(Total for Question 12 is 6 marks)

A basketball player raises one arm forward and upward to shoulder height, in a straight line in front of the body, to execute an overhead chest pass.

(a)Name the joint action taking place at the shoulder.(1)

(b)State the plane of movement this action takes place in.(1)

(c)Name the joint type found at the shoulder.(1)

(d)Explain why the shoulder needing to be a ball and socket joint, rather than a hinge joint, matters for a basketball player who must both pass overhead and dribble the ball sideways around their body.(2)

(Total for Question 13 is 5 marks)

During a side-foot pass, a footballer first swings their kicking leg out to the side to line up the strike, then swings it back in towards the midline of their body to make contact with the ball.

(a)Name the two joint actions taking place at the hip during this passing action, in the order they occur.(2)

(b)State the plane of movement these actions take place in, and name the joint type at the hip.(2)

(c)Explain why a ball and socket joint, rather than a hinge joint, is needed at the hip for a footballer to be able to both flex/extend the leg (as when running) and abduct/adduct it (as when side-footing a pass).(2)

(Total for Question 14 is 6 marks)

Which joint type allows flexion, extension, abduction and adduction, but does NOT allow rotation?

A) Ball and socket joint
B) Hinge joint
C) Pivot joint
D) Condyloid joint

(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)

The ankle is a hinge joint.

Explain, using the dolphin kick used in swimming butterfly as an example, why the ankle's joint type allows plantarflexion and dorsiflexion but does NOT allow the foot to move sideways (abduction or adduction) at the ankle during the kick.

(Total for Question 16 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · 2.4 Movement Analysis: Joint Actions and Joint Types

Question 1

(a) B1 a movement that decreases the angle at a joint, oe
(a) Answer: A movement that decreases the angle at a joint.
(b) B1 a movement that increases the angle at a joint, oe
(b) Answer: A movement that increases the angle at a joint.
(c) B1 movement of a limb away from the midline of the body, oe
(c) Answer: Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body.
(d) B1 movement of a limb back towards the midline of the body, oe
(d) Answer: Movement of a limb back towards the midline of the body.

Question 2

B1 C
Answer: C

Question 3

(a) B1 pivot joint
(a) Answer: Pivot joint.
(b) B1 condyloid joint
(b) Answer: Condyloid joint.
(c) B1 ball and socket joint
(c) Answer: Ball and socket joint.
(d) B1 hinge joint
(d) Answer: Hinge joint.

Question 4

B1 hip flexion
B1 sagittal plane
Answer: Hip flexion, in the sagittal plane.

Question 5

B1 hip flexion and extension
B1 sagittal plane
Answer: Hip flexion and extension, alternating, in the sagittal plane.

Question 6

Level 3 (7-9): A detailed and coherent response that accurately names the joint type and relevant joint actions at Kwame's hip, shoulder and elbow, explains how they combine to produce the diving save, and gives a well-justified evaluation of what would be lost if the shoulder and hip were hinge joints instead of ball and socket joints. Sustained, accurate use of joint-action and joint-type terminology throughout.
Level 2 (4-6): Some accurate naming of joint types and joint actions at Kwame's hip, shoulder and/or elbow, with some explanation of how they combine, but coverage of all three joints or the evaluative point may be incomplete or underdeveloped.
Level 1 (1-3): Basic or generic statements about joints and movement with little or no application to Kwame's specific save, and little or no evaluation.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- The hip is a ball and socket joint, allowing the abduction (sideways) and rotation described, which drives Kwame's whole body sideways towards the ball.
- The shoulder is also a ball and socket joint, allowing both flexion (reaching the arm forward/up) and abduction (reaching the arm sideways) at the same joint, which lets Kwame reach towards a ball that could be in many different directions.
- The elbow is a hinge joint, allowing only extension (straightening the arm), which adds extra reach in a single, simple plane once the shoulder has already aimed the arm in the right direction.
- The combination shows a general principle: ball and socket joints (hip, shoulder) provide the multi-directional positioning needed for an unpredictable sporting situation, while hinge joints (elbow) provide simple, single-plane extension to extend that reach further.
- Evaluative point: if the shoulder and hip were hinge joints, Kwame could only flex/extend at each, meaning he could reach forward or straighten his body in one plane, but could not abduct/rotate sideways or diagonally to reach a ball that was not directly in front of him.
- Evaluative point: because most diving saves need to cover a wide range of directions (not just straight ahead), a hinge-joint hip and shoulder would make many real saves impossible or far less effective, showing how essential the ball and socket joint type is to this specific sporting skill.
- Balanced conclusion: the save relies on ball and socket joints for direction and reach and a hinge joint for simple extension, and each joint type is suited to the specific role it plays in the movement, rather than one joint type being generally superior to the other.

Question 7

B1 plantarflexion
B1 sagittal plane
Answer: Plantarflexion, in the sagittal plane.

Question 8

B1 hinge joint
B1 flexion and extension
Answer: The elbow is a hinge joint, allowing flexion and extension.

Question 9

B1 dorsiflexion
B1 hinge joint
Answer: Dorsiflexion, occurring at the hinge joint of the ankle.

Question 10

B1 D
Answer: D

Question 11

Level 3 (5-6): A detailed and coherent response that accurately names the joint type at both the elbow and wrist, explains how each contributes to the badminton smash, and gives a well-justified discussion of why the shot would be less controlled with a hinge joint at the wrist. Sustained, accurate use of joint-action and joint-type terminology throughout.
Level 2 (3-4): Some accurate naming and description of the joint types at the elbow and/or wrist, with some attempt to link them to the smash, but coverage of both joints or the discussion of the hinge-joint hypothetical may be incomplete or underdeveloped.
Level 1 (1-2): Basic or generic statements about joints and movement with little or no application to the badminton smash, and little or no discussion of the hypothetical.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- The elbow is a hinge joint, allowing flexion and extension in one plane; rapid elbow extension helps drive the racket forwards towards the shuttle.
- The wrist is a condyloid joint, allowing flexion, extension, abduction and adduction but not full rotation, so it can make small adjustments to the racket face as well as flexing through impact.
- The combination lets the elbow provide a powerful, simple forward action while the wrist adds finer control over racket angle and placement.
- Discussion point: if the wrist were a hinge joint, it would only flex and extend in one plane, so the player would lose the side-to-side adjustment used to control the racket face.
- Discussion point: the smash could still gain some power from elbow extension, but it would be less controlled and accurate because the wrist could not fine-tune the direction of the shot as effectively.
- Balanced conclusion: the hinge elbow is useful for a forceful extension, while the condyloid wrist is important for control; replacing the wrist with a hinge joint would reduce control more than raw arm drive.

Question 12

(a) B1 flexion
(a) B1 sagittal plane
(a) Answer: Flexion, in the sagittal plane.
(b) B1 abduction
(b) B1 frontal plane
(b) Answer: Abduction, in the frontal plane.
(c) B1 the shoulder is a ball and socket joint, oe
(c) B1 this joint type allows movement in multiple directions/planes from the same joint (flexion/extension in the sagittal plane as well as abduction/adduction in the frontal plane, plus rotation), unlike a joint type such as a hinge that only allows movement in one plane, oe
(c) Answer: The shoulder is a ball and socket joint, which allows movement in multiple directions and planes from the same joint (flexion/extension in the sagittal plane as well as abduction/adduction in the frontal plane, plus rotation), unlike a hinge joint, which only allows movement in one plane.

Question 13

(a) B1 flexion
(a) Answer: Flexion.
(b) B1 sagittal plane
(b) Answer: Sagittal plane.
(c) B1 ball and socket joint
(c) Answer: Ball and socket joint.
(d) B1 a hinge joint would only allow flexion and extension (forward/backward movement in one plane), oe
(d) B1 a ball and socket joint additionally allows abduction/adduction and rotation, so the same shoulder can also move the arm sideways to dribble around the body, which a hinge joint could not do, oe
(d) Answer: A hinge joint would only allow flexion and extension, forward/backward movement in one plane. A ball and socket joint additionally allows abduction/adduction and rotation, so the same shoulder can also move the arm sideways to dribble around the body, which a hinge joint could not do.

Question 14

(a) B1 abduction (swinging the leg out)
(a) B1 adduction (swinging the leg back in)
(a) Answer: Abduction (swinging the leg out), followed by adduction (swinging the leg back in).
(b) B1 frontal plane
(b) B1 ball and socket joint
(b) Answer: Frontal plane; the hip is a ball and socket joint.
(c) B1 a hinge joint only allows movement in one plane (flexion/extension), oe
(c) B1 a ball and socket joint allows movement in more than one plane from the same joint, so the same hip can both flex/extend for running and abduct/adduct for a side-foot pass, oe
(c) Answer: A hinge joint only allows movement in one plane, flexion and extension. A ball and socket joint allows movement in more than one plane from the same joint, so the same hip can both flex and extend for running and abduct and adduct for a side-foot pass.

Question 15

B1 D
Answer: D

Question 16

B1 a hinge joint only allows movement in one plane (uniaxial), oe
B1 so the ankle can only bend within that one plane, producing plantarflexion (pointing the toes down through the water) and dorsiflexion (pulling them back up), oe
B1 sideways movement such as abduction or adduction would need a second plane of movement, which the hinge joint at the ankle does not allow, so it cannot happen there, oe
Answer: Because the ankle is a hinge joint, it only allows movement in one plane, so during the dolphin kick it can only plantarflex and dorsiflex (bend up and down); a sideways movement such as abduction or adduction would need a second plane of movement, which a hinge joint does not allow at the ankle.

Movement Analysis: Joint Actions and Joint Types - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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