3.1 Study the photographs above and name any THREE muscles responsible for moving the hip joint - NSC Dance Studies - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 1

One anatomical action occurring in the hip joint is hip flexion. This action involves the bending of the knee and raising the thigh towards the abdomen, primarily facilitated by the iliopsoas muscle group.

Two other anatomical actions possible in the hip joint include:

1. Hip abduction, which is the movement of the leg away from the midline of the body, primarily executed by the gluteus medius muscle.
2. Hip extension, which involves moving the leg backwards and is mainly controlled by the gluteus maximus muscle.

The anatomical action occurring in the ankles in photographs B and C is plantar flexion, where the toes point downward, and the heel lifts off the ground.

The three muscles involved in plantar flexion in photographs B and C are:

1. Gastrocnemius
2. Soleus
3. Tibialis Posterior

To aid recovery after a muscle strain, a dancer could:

1. Rest - Allowing time for the muscle to heal reduces further injury and promotes recovery.
2. Ice Therapy - Applying ice to the strained area reduces swelling and inflammation, easing pain.
3. Gentle Stretching - Once the acute pain is reduced, gentle stretching helps regain flexibility and prevent stiffness, aiding in a quicker return to full activity.