Bones, Joints and Movement - L0 5

5. Understand the types of movements that may occur at synovial joints.

• • Flexion/Extension/Hyperextension: typically sagittal plane (moving either anteriorly, or posteriorly)

    • Flexion: decrease in angle

      • Typically movement in an anterior direction (knee is a notable exception)

    • Extension: back to anatomical position

    • Hyperextension: past anatomical position

  • Abduction/Adduction: typically frontal plane (moving either laterally, or medially)

    • Abduction: away from midline

    • Adduction: back toward midline (‘Add’ back to the body)

  • Circumduction: circular motion

    • Combined motion: flexion, abduction, extension, adduction

  • Medial (internal) rotation/ Lateral (external) rotation: rotation of a part of the body around its longitudinal axis

    • Medial rotation: brings anterior surface of a limb closer to the median plane

    • Lateral rotation: takes anterior surface of a limb away from the median plane