Descriptions of joint movements
The following table shows the different types of movements that are possible. The possible range of movement in synovial joints varies according to their shape, surface and joint type.
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| Movement type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion | Decreasing the angle of a joint, or bending a limb | Bending the knee |
| Extension | Increasing the angle of a joint, or straightening a limb | Straightening the knee |
| Abduction | Taking a limb away from the mid-line of the body | Lifting the arms from the side of body |
| Adduction | Taking a limb towards the mid-line of the body | Lowering the arms towards the side of the body |
| Rotation | When a limb rotates about it's own axis | Looking over your shoulder |
| Circumduction | When one end of the limb describes a circle | Doing the butterfly stroke in swimming |
| Supination | Rotation of the forearm causing the palm of the hand to face up | Turning your hands from facing down, to turning up |
| Pronation | Rotation of the forearm causing the palm of the hand to face down | Turning your hands from facing up to facing down |
| Eversion | At the ankle when the sole of the foot is turned outwards | Kicking a football with the instep |
| Inversion | At the ankle when the sole of the foot is turned inwards | When you twist your ankle it is excessive inversion |
| Dorsi flexion | At the ankle joint when the toes are pulled upwards towards the shin | When you do a calf stretch |
| Plantar flexion | At the ankle when the toes are pointed downwards | When you stand on tip toes |
| Depression | Downward movement of the shoulder girdle | Pushing the shoulder blades down |
| Elevation | Upward movement of the shoulder girdle | Shrugging the shoulders |
| Horizontal flexion & extension | Occurs when the arm (at shoulder height) moves across the body, and back out to the side. | Bringing the arm across and then away from the body |
| Hyper extension | Excessive extension beyond straight | A crab position in gymnastics |
| Lateral flexion | Bending to the side | Tilting of the head |
| Protraction | The shoulders are drawn forwards | Rounding of the shoulders |
| Retraction | The shoulders are drawn backwards | Opening out the chest |
