AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Shoulder and hip (horizontal abduction and adduction).
Full specification wording
The musculo-skeletal system and analysis of movement in physical activities: Shoulder and hip (horizontal abduction and adduction).
Horizontal abduction and adduction occur at the shoulder and hip when the limb is already flexed or abducted to roughly 90 degrees and then moves in the transverse plane about the longitudinal axis.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 8 of 10
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Horizontal abduction and adduction occur at the shoulder and hip when the limb is already flexed or abducted to roughly 90 degrees and then moves in the transverse plane about the longitudinal axis. Horizontal abduction moves the limb away from the midline of the body; horizontal adduction moves it towards or across the midline. In a tennis forehand drive, the racquet arm starts horizontally abducted behind the body and then horizontally adducts across the body to strike the ball. At the hip, bringing a leg that is flexed at 90 degrees across the body demonstrates horizontal adduction. To analyse these actions, confirm the limb is raised, identify the direction of travel relative to the midline, and name the plane and axis.
What earns the marks
- Horizontal abduction and adduction occur at the shoulder and the hip.
- The limb must be raised to approximately 90 degrees for the action to be described as horizontal.
- Horizontal abduction moves the limb away from the midline of the body.
- Horizontal adduction moves the limb towards or across the midline of the body.
- A sporting example, such as the racquet arm in a tennis forehand drive, can be used to illustrate the actions.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing horizontal abduction with abduction in the frontal plane.
Put it right: Horizontal abduction occurs when the limb is raised and moves across in the transverse plane, whereas abduction raises the limb away from the midline in the frontal plane.
Describing horizontal adduction as moving the limb away from the midline.
Put it right: Horizontal adduction brings the limb towards or across the midline.
Using a standing leg swing as an example of horizontal adduction.
Put it right: A standing leg swing across the body is hip adduction in the frontal plane, not horizontal adduction.
Exam tips
- Check that the limb is raised to about 90 degrees before labelling the action as horizontal.
- State the direction of travel relative to the body's midline to distinguish abduction from adduction.
- Link the action to the transverse plane and longitudinal axis to show a complete movement analysis.
Try the lesson
The start of the The musculo-skeletal system and analysis of movement in physical activities: Shoulder and hip (horizontal abduction and adduction). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A goalkeeper raises both arms to shoulder height in front of the body, then draws them backwards so the hands move away from each other behind the shoulders. Which joint action at the shoulder does drawing the arms backwards describe?
Listen
Horizontal abduction and adduction occur at the shoulder and hip when the limb is already flexed or abducted to roughly 90 degrees and then moves in the transverse plane about the longitudinal axis. Horizontal abduction moves the limb away from the midline of the body; horizontal adduction moves it towards or across the midline. In a tennis forehand drive, the racquet arm starts horizontally abducted behind the body and then horizontally adducts across the body to strike the ball. At the hip, bringing a leg that is flexed at 90 degrees across the body demonstrates horizontal adduction. To analyse these actions, confirm the limb is raised, identify the direction of travel relative to the midline, and name the plane and axis. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Horizontal abduction and adduction occur at the shoulder and the hip. The limb must be raised to approximately 90 degrees for the action to be described as horizontal. Horizontal abduction moves the limb away from the midline of the body. Horizontal adduction moves the limb towards or across the midline of the body. Exam tip: Check that the limb is raised to about 90 degrees before labelling the action as horizontal.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Horizontal abduction
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Horizontal adduction
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Transverse plane movement
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Horizontal abduction
- Moves the limb away from the midline of the body when the limb is already raised to approximately 90 degrees.
- Horizontal adduction
- Moves the limb towards or across the midline of the body when the limb is already raised to approximately 90 degrees.
- Transverse plane movement
- Movement occurring in the transverse plane about the longitudinal axis, as in horizontal abduction and adduction at the shoulder and hip.
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