Kinesiology

Terms describing general movements

9 terms

Dorsal flexion (dorsiflexion)

Flexion movement of the ankle that results in the top of the foot moving toward the anterior tibia one bone in the sagittal plane

Palmar flexion

Flexion movement of the wrist in the sagittal plane with the volar or anterior side of the hand moving toward the anterior side of the forearm.

Protraction (abduction)

Forward movement of the shoulder girdle in the horizontal plane away from the spine. Abduction of the scapula

Pronation

Internally rotating the radius in the transverse plane so that it lies diagonally across the ulna, resulting in the palm-down position of the forearm.

Terms describing radioulnar joint movements

2 Terms

Terms describing shoulder joint movements

2 Terms

Terms describing spine movements

2 Terms

Terms describing ankle and foot movements

6 Terms

Terms describing shoulder girdle movements

6 Terms

Terms describing wrist and hand movements

6 Terms

Pronation

A combination of ankle dorsiflexion, subtalar eversion, and forefoot abduction (toe-out)

Supination

A combination of ankle plantar flexion, subtalar inversion, and forefoot adduction (toe-in).

Radial flexion (radial deviation)

Abduction movement at the wrist in the frontal plane of the thumb side of the hand toward the lateral forearm.

Ulnar flexion (ulnar deviation)

Adduction movement at the wrist in the frontal plane of the little finger side of the hand toward the medial forearm.

Retraction (adduction)

Backward movement of the shoulder girdle in the horizontal plane toward the spine. Adduction of the scapula

Flexion

Bending movement that results in a decrease of the angle in a joint by bringing bones together, usually in the sagittal plane. An example is the elbow joint when the hand is drawn to the shoulder

Circumduction

Circular movement of a limb that delineates an arc or describes a cone. It is a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction. Sometimes referred to as circumflexion. An example occurs when the shoulder alder joint joint a and the hip joint move in a circular fashion around a fixed point, either clockwise or counterclockwise

Opposition of the thumb

Diagonal movement of the thumb across the pal- mar surface of the hand to make contact with the fingers

Reposition of the thumb

Diagonal movement of the thumb as it returns to the anatomical position from opposition with the hand and/or fingers.

Plantar flexion

Extension movement of the ankle that results in the foot and/or toes moving away from the body in the sagittal plane

Dorsal flexion (dorsiflexion)

Extension movement of the wrist in the sagittal plane with the dorsal or posterior side of the hand moving toward the posterior side of the lateral forearm

Supination

Externally rotating the radius in the transverse plane so that it lies parallel to the ulna, resulting in the palm-up position of the forearm.

Depression

Inferior movement of the shoulder girdle in the frontal plane. An example is returning to the normal position from a shoulder shrug.

Abduction

Lateral movement away from the midline of the trunk in the frontal plane. An example is raising the arms or legs to the side horizontally

Diagonal abduction

Movement by a limb through a diagonal plane away from the midline of the body such as in the hip or glenohumeral joint.

Diagonal adduction

Movement by a limb through a diagonal plane toward and across the midline of the body such as in the hip or glenohumeral joint

Adduction

Movement medially toward the midline of the trunk in the frontal plane. An example is lowering the arm to the side or the thigh back to the anatomical position.

Lateral flexion (side bending)

Movement of the head and/or trunk in the frontal plane laterally away from the midline. Abduction of the spine

Horizontal abduction

Movement of the humerus in the horizontal plane away from the midline of the body. Also known as horizontal extension or transverse abduction.

Horizontal adduction

Movement of the humerus in the horizontal plane toward the midline of the body. Also known as horizontal flexion or transverse adduction.

Reduction

Return of the spinal column in the frontal plane to the anatomic position from lateral flexion. Adduction of the spine

External rotation

Rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone away from the midline of the body. Occurs in the transverse plane and is is also also known known as as rotation rotation laterally, outward rotation, and lateral rotation.

Internal rotation

Rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone toward the midline of the body. Occurs in the transverse plane and is also known as rotation medially, inward rotation. and medial rotation

Rotation upward

Rotary movement of the scapula in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the scapula moving laterally and upward.

Rotation downward

Rotary movement of the scapula in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the scapula moving medially and downward. Occurs primarily in the return from upward rotation. The inferior angle may actually move upward slightly as the scapula continues in extreme downward rotation.

Extension

Straightening movement that results in an increase of the angle in a joint by moving bones apart usually in the sagittal plane. Using the elbow, an example is when the hand moves away from the shoulder

Elevation

Superior movement movement of the shoulder girdle in the frontal plane. An example is shrugging the shoulders

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward or medially in the frontal plane; adduction. An example is standing with the weight on the outer edge of the foot

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward or laterally in the frontal plane abduction. An example is standing with the weight on the inner edge of the foot.