GradeGen

A movement that decreases the angle at a joint, such as bending the elbow.

A bending movement that decreases the angle between the bones at a joint.

Both allow flexion and extension. At the shoulder, you also need to recognise abduction, adduction, rotation and circumduction.

A movement that decreases the angle at a joint, such as bending the elbow or knee.

A bending movement that decreases the angle between the bones at a joint.

Like a door hinge, they mainly allow bending and straightening: flexion and extension. The shoulder and hip are ball-and-socket joints, where a rounded bone head fits into a socket. This arrangement allows movement in several directions, including all six movements explored below.

A movement that decreases the angle at a joint, such as bending the elbow or knee.

Identify the phase of the sporting action. Lowering in a push-up involves elbow flexion; pushing upwards involves elbow extension.

Plantar flexion and dorsiflexion describe movement at the ankle, not bending or straightening the toes.

For plantar flexion when rising onto the toes, the fulcrum is the ball of the foot, not the ankle joint.