Shoulder and hip (flexion, extension and hyperextension).

The idea

The shoulder and hip are ball-and-socket joints, so they allow movement in several planes, but flexion, extension and hyperextension occur in the sagittal plane about a transverse axis. Flexion at the shoulder raises the arm forwards, as in the upward phase of a front raise; extension returns it to the side or behind the body, as in the downward phase. Hyperextension continues the movement beyond the anatomical position, for example when the arm is pulled backwards in a rowing action. At the hip, flexion lifts the thigh forwards, as in the knee lift during running; extension drives the thigh backwards, as in the push-off phase of sprinting; hyperextension carries the thigh further back, as in the trailing leg of a hurdler. To analyse these actions, name the joint, the action, the plane and the axis, and link the action to a sporting example.

What earns the marks

• The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that permits flexion, extension and hyperextension in the sagittal plane about a transverse axis.
• The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that permits flexion, extension and hyperextension in the sagittal plane about a transverse axis.
• Shoulder flexion raises the arm forwards, for example during the upward phase of a front raise.
• Shoulder extension returns the arm from flexion towards the anatomical position, for example during the downward phase of a front raise.
• Shoulder hyperextension moves the arm backwards beyond the anatomical position, for example during the pull phase of a rowing stroke.
• Hip flexion lifts the thigh forwards, for example during the knee lift in running.
• Hip extension drives the thigh backwards, for example during the push-off phase of sprinting.
• Hip hyperextension carries the thigh further backwards beyond the anatomical position, for example in the trailing leg of a hurdler.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating hyperextension as the same as extension.

  Put it right: Extension returns a joint to the anatomical position, while hyperextension continues the movement beyond it.

• Confusing shoulder flexion with shoulder abduction.

  Put it right: Flexion moves the arm forwards in the sagittal plane, whereas abduction moves it sideways in the frontal plane.

• Naming the wrong axis for shoulder or hip flexion.

  Put it right: The correct axis is transverse, not longitudinal or sagittal.

• Describing hip extension as lifting the thigh forwards.

  Put it right: Hip extension moves the thigh backwards, while hip flexion lifts it forwards.

Exam tips

• Use the structure 'joint + action + plane + axis' for every analysis, for example 'hip extension in the sagittal plane about a transverse axis'.
• Choose a clear sporting example for each action, such as shoulder hyperextension in the pull phase of rowing or hip hyperextension in the trailing leg of a hurdler.
• Check the direction of movement against the anatomical position: if the limb moves beyond it, the action is hyperextension, not extension.
• Remember that the shoulder and hip are ball-and-socket joints, so they can also move in other planes; state the plane explicitly to show you are analysing the sagittal action.