Types of Movement

Inversion

Is a twisting of the foot that turns the sole inward.

Abduction

Is movement away from from the longitudinal axis of the body in the frontal plane. For example, swinging the upper limb to the side is abduction of the limb.

Flexion

Is movement in the anterior-posterior plane that reduces the angle between the articulating elements. Flexion happens at the shoulder joint or hip joint moves the limbs forward (anteriorly).

Dorsiflexion

Is the flexion of the ankle joint and elevation of the sole, as when you dig in your heel.

Eversion

Is the movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane. Inversion is the movement of the sole towards the median plane.

Opposition

Is the movement of the thumb toward the palm or fingertips that enables you to grasp and hold an object.

Retraction

Is the opposite of protraction.

Adduction

Moving it back to the anatomical position. Adduction of the wrist moves the heel of the hand toward the body, whereas abduction moves it farther away.

Extension

Occurs in the same plane, but it increases the angle between articulating elements.

Elevation

Refers to movement in a superior direction. When you close your mouth you elevate it.

Depression

Refers to the movement in a inferior direction. You depress your mandible when you open your mouth.

Pronation

Rotation of an anatomical part towards the midline: as a : rotation of the hand and forearm so that the palm faces backwards or downwards b : rotation of the medial bones in the mid-tarsal region of the foot inward and downward so that in walking the foot tends to come down on its inner margin.

Protraction

The act of moving an anatomical part forward. 2. : the state of being protracted; especially : protrusion of the jaws.

Circumduction

The circular (or, more precisely, conical) movement of a body part, such as a ball-and-socket joint or the eye. It consists of a combination of flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction. An example of Circumduction is moving your arm in a loop, as when drawing a large circle on a chalkboard.

Supination

The opposing movement of pronation, in which the palm is is turned forward.

Plantar flexion

The opposite movement of Dorsiflexion, extends the ankle joint and elevates the heel, as when you stand on tiptoe.

Hyperextension

To extend so that the angle between bones of a joint is greater than normal. You can hyperextend the neck , a movement that enables you to gaze at the ceiling.

Gliding

Two opposing surfaces glide past each other. Gliding occurs between the surfaces of articulating carpal bones and articulating tarsal bones and between the clavicles and sternum.