Definitions of Body Movements

RETRACTION

movement that results in the protracted portion of the body being moved on a parallel plane, back to its original position.

REPOSITION

movement that returns the thumb to its anatomical position.

CIRCUMDUCTION

a combination of flexion, abduction, extension and adduction performed one after the other. The proximal end of the limb remains stationary and the distal end moves in a circle. The limb as a whole outlines a cone.

EXTENSION

a movement generally in the sagittal plane that increases the angle of a joint and the distance between two bones (or part of the body). If extension is greater than 180 degrees, it is termed as hyper-extension.

FLEXION

a movement, generally in the sagittal plane, that decreases the angle of the joint and lessens the distance between the two bones (or part of the body).

OPPOSITION

movement in which the thumb is brought to touch the pad of another finger of the same hand. This movement allows us to grasp and manipulate object.

ROTATION

movement of a bone around its longitudinal axis without lateral or medial displacement.

ABDUCTION

movement of a limb away from the mid line or median plane of the body generally on the frontal plane, or the fanning movement of fingers or toes when they are spread apart (the digits move away from the longitudinal axis of the hand or foot).

ADDUCTION

movement of a limb toward the mid line of the body. The digits move toward the longitudinal axis of the hand or foot.

PLANTARFLEXION

movement of the ankle joint in which the foot is flexed downward (standing on one's toes or pointing the toes).

DORSIFLEXION

movement of the ankle joint in which the foot is flexed upward (standing on one's heels).

SUPINATION

movement of the palm from a posterior position to an anterior position. During supination, the radius and ulna are parallel.

PRONATION

movement of the palm of the hand from an anterior or upward-facing position to a posterior or downward-facing position. This action moves the distal end of the radius across the ulna. (There is NO rotation of the arm: the arm is immobile during pronation)

DEPRESSION

movement that results in a portion of the body being moved downward along a frontal plane.

PROTRACTION

movement that results in a portion of the body being moved forward on a plane parallel to the ground.

ELEVATION

movement that results in a portion of the body being moved or lifted upward along a frontal plane.

EVERSION

movement that results in the lateral turning of the sole of the foot.

INVERSION

movement that results in the medial turning of the sole of the foot.