The hip is capable of which movements?

• A. All plane-joint movements, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation
• B. Circumduction only
• C. Flexion only
• D. Abduction only

Answer: (A)

Movement in multiple planes is what the hip joint allows because it’s a ball-and-socket joint. This setup lets you flex and extend in the sagittal plane, abduct and adduct in the frontal plane, and rotate internally and externally in the transverse plane. Circumduction isn’t a separate basic motion but a circular path created by combining these movements. So the hip can perform all these fundamental actions, not just one or a single movement.