Joint Actions & Planes of Movement

Frontal

Transverse

Sagittal

Description

The frontal plane passes through the body from left to right, dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Description

The transverse plane passes through the body in a line parallel to the floor, dividing the body into top and bottom portions. 

Description

The sagittal plane passes through the body from front to back, dividing the body into left and right portions.

Example

Side to side movements occur in the frontal plane, such as raising your arms or legs out to the side like in a star jump.

Example

Twisting or rotational movements occur in the transverse plane, such as twisting your head from side to side. 

Example

Front to back movements occur in the sagittal plane, such as walking, pushing, pulling and squatting.

Flexion:

Refers to movement where the angle between two bones decreases.  Flexion is commonly known as bending.  

Extension: 

Refers to movement where the angle between two bones increases.  Extension is otherwise known as straightening.  

Horizontal flexion: 

Refers to movement where the angle between two bones decreases and on the horizontal plane.

Horizontal extension: 

Refers to movement where the angle between two bones increases and occurs on the horizontal plane.

Lateral Flexion:

Refers to movement of the spine laterally away from the midline of the body.  This can be seen when we bend to one side.

Abduction: 

Is movement of a body segment away from the midline of the body.

Adduction: 

Is movement of a body segment toward the midline of the body.

Circumduction:

This is a movement where the joint is the pivot and the body segment moves in a combination of flexion, extension, adduction and abduction.

Protraction:  

This is forward movement of the scapula that results in ‘hunching’ of the shoulders.

Retraction: 

This is backward movement of the scapula as they pull together to ‘square’ the shoulders and push the chest out.

Elevation: 

Refers to the raising of the scapula to a more superior level (shrugging the shoulders). 

Depression: 

Refers to the scapula moving to a more inferior position as they are pulled downwards.

Supination: 

Hand – movement so the palm of the hand faces upward or forward (anteriorly).

Foot – combination of inversion, plantar flexion and adduction of the foot occurring at the same time.

Pronation:

Hand – movement so the palm of the hand faces downward or backward (posteriorly).

Foot – combination of eversion, dorsiflexion and abduction of the foot occurring at the same time.

Plantar flexion: 

Is moving the top of the foot away from the shin or ‘pointing’ the toes.

Dorsiflexion: 

Is moving the top of the foot toward the shin or ‘raising’ the toes.