Movements Ms. Palmer

Objective You will be able to describe the movements that are created by the skeletal system.

Intro In physical therapy, kinesiology, and other medical and scientific fields specific terms are used to describe the movements of Synovial joints. We will need to command these terms to understand many of the muscle actions we are going to learn about in our next unit. For easier study, they’re grouped by contrasting movements.

Flexion and Extension Flexion is a movement that decreases the angle of a joint, usually in a sagittal plane. Examples are bending the elbow or knee and bending the neck to look down at the floor. Bending of the waist is flexion of the spine. Extension is movement that straightens a joint and generally returns a body part to anatomical position. Examples: Straightening the knee, raising the head to look forward.

Hyperextension Hyperextension is the extension of a joint beyond 180 degrees. Raising the back of your hand, as if admiring a new ring hyperextends the wrist. Looking up to the ceiling hyperextends the neck.

Abduction and Adduction Abduction is a movement of a body part away from the median plane. Raising the arm to one side of the body or standing spread-legged is an example of abduction. Adduction is movement toward the median plane, returning the abducted body part to anatomical position. Some movements are open to alternative interpretation. Bending the head to one side or bending sideways at the waist may be regarded as abduction or lateral flexion.

Elevation and Depression Elevation is a movement that raises a bone vertically. The mandible is elevated when biting off a piece of food. Depression is the opposite of elevation. Lowering the mandible to open the mouth or lowering the shoulders is an example of depression.

Protraction and Retraction Protraction is movement of a bone anteriorly on a horizontal plane. Jutting the jaw outward is an example of protraction. Retraction is movement of a bone posteriorly on a horizontal plane. The clavicles are retracted when standing in military position.

Circumduction Circumduction is movement in which one end of an appendage remains relatively stationary while the other end makes a circular motion. It is actually a sequence of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction. An example is if an artist standing at an easel reaches out and draws a circle on the canvas. The shoulder remains stationary while the hand makes a circle.

Rotation Rotation is a movement in which a bone turns on its longitudinal axis. Twisting at the waist is an example of rotation.

Supination and Pronation Supination is rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces forward or upward. In anatomical position, the forearm is supine. Pronation is rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces toward the rear or downward. You can think of it this way: You are prone to stand in the most comfortable position, which is with the palm pronated.

Opposition and Reposition Opposition is movement of the thumb to approach or touch the fingertips. Reposition is its movement back to anatomical position parallel to the index finger.

Dorsiflexion and Plantar flexion Dorsiflexion is a movement in which the toes are raised. Plantar flexion is a movement that points the toes downward, as in standing on tiptoe or pressing the gas pedal of a car.

Inversion and Eversion Inversion is a movement that lifts the medial border of the foot so the soles turn medially and face each other. Eversion is a movement that lifts the lateral border of the foot so the soles face away from each other.