Types of Joint Movements

lateral flexion

movement of the trunk sideways to the right or left at the waist -occurs in the frontal plane and involves the intervertebral joints

rotation

revolves around its own longitudinal axis

lateral rotation

anterior surface of a bone of the limb is turned away from the midline

medial rotation

anterior surface of a bone of the limb is turned toward the midline

flexion

decrease in the angle between articulating bones

circumduction

circular (or conical) movement of a body part -consists of a combination of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction -ball-and-socket joint allows circumduction

hyperextension

continuation of extension beyond the anatomical position and is often prevented by the arrangement of ligaments and the anatomical alignment of bones

depression

downward movement of a part of the body

extension

increase in the angle between articulating bones

gliding

relatively flat bone surfaces move back and forth and from side to side with respect to one another -no significant change of the angle between the bones

eversion

movement of the soles laterally so that they face away from each other

inversion

movement of the soles medially so that they face toward each other

elevation

upward movement of a part of the body

dorsiflexion

bending of the foot at the ankle in the direction of the superior surface (stand on heels)

plantar flexion

bending of the foot at the ankle joint in the direction of the plantar surface (stand on toes)

reposition

movement involved in releasing an object by spreading the fingers and thumb

opposition

movement involving a grasping of the thumb and fingers

abduction

movement of a bone away from the midline

adduction

movement of a bone toward the midline

protraction

movement of a part of the body anteriorly in the transverse plane

retraction

movement of a protracted part back to the anatomical position

pronation

movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in which the distal end of the radius crosses over the distal end of the ulna and the pal is turned posteriorly or inferiorly

supination

movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in which the palm is turned anteriorly or superiorly