Joint Movements

Flexion

Decrease of an angle (usually in sagittal plane)

Lateral flexion

Bending the trunk to the side

Extension

Increase of an angle (usually in sagittal plane)

Hyperextension

Extension beyond anatomical position

Abduction

Movement of a body part away from the midline (usually in the frontal plane)

Adduction

Movement of a body part toward the midline (usually in the frontal plane)

Circumduction

Circular movement (combines flexion, abduction, extension, adduction)

Rotation

Movement of a part around its long axis

Medial (internal) rotation

Inward rotation

Lateral (external) rotation

Outward rotation

Gliding

Back and forth and side to side sliding movements of plane joints

Supination

Rotation of forearm and palm of hand anterior or upward

Pronation

Rising of forearm and palm or hand posteriorly or downward

Elevation

Movement of body part upward

Depression

Movement of body part downward

Dorsiflexion

Movement of ankle joint so dorsum of foot becomes closer to anterior surface of leg

Raise toes

Plantar flexion

Movement of ankle joint so the plantar surface of foot become closer to the posterior surface of leg

Standing on toes

Inversion

Supination

Medial movement of sole of foot at ankle joint

Eversion

Pronation

Lateral moment of sole of foot at ankle joint

Protraction

Anterior movement in the transverse plane

Retraction

Posterior movement in transverse plane

Excursion

Special movement of mandible when grinding food

Lateral excursion

Movement of mandible laterally

Medial excursion

Movement of mandible medially

Opposition

Movement of thumb to touch another finger on same hand

Reposition

Return of thumb to anatomical position