Joint Movement

Front 1

Flexion

Back 1

Movement resulting in a decrease of the joint angle, usually moving anteriorly in the sagittal plane

Front 2

Extension

Back 2

Movement resulting in an increase of the joint angle, usually moving posteriorly in the sagittal plane

Front 3

Abduction

Back 3

Movement away from the midline of the body, usually in the frontal plane

Front 4

Adduction

Back 4

Movement toward the midline of the body, usually in the frontal plane

Front 5

Horizontal abduction

Back 5

Movement away from the midline of the body in the transverse plane, usually used to describe horizontal humerus movement when the shoulder is flexed 90 degrees

Front 6

Horizontal adduction

Back 6

Movement toward the midline of the body in the transverse plane, usually used to describe horizontal humerus movement when the shoulder is flexed at 90 degrees

Front 7

Internal (medial) rotation

Back 7

Rotation in the transverse plane toward the midline of the body

Front 8

External (lateral) rotation

Back 8

Rotation in the transverse plane away from the midline of the body

Front 9

Lateral flexion (right or left)

Back 9

Movement away from the midline of the body in the frontal plane, usually used to describe neck and trunk movement

Front 10

Rotation (right or left)

Back 10

Right or left in the transverse plane, usually used to describe neck and trunk movement

Front 11

Elevation

Back 11

Movement of the scapula superiorly in the frontal plane

Front 12

Depression

Back 12

Movement of the scapula inferiorly in the frontal plane

Front 13

Retraction

Back 13

Movement of the scapula toward the spine in the frontal plane

Front 14

Protraction

Back 14

Movement of the scapula away from the spine in the frontal plane

Front 15

Upward rotation

Back 15

Superior and lateral movement of the inferior angle of the scapula in the frontal plane

Front 16

Downward rotation

Back 16

Inferior and medial movement of the inferior angle of the scapula in the frontal plane

Front 17

Circumduction

Back 17

A compound circular movement involving flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, circumscribing a cone shape

Front 18

Radial deviation

Back 18

Abduction of the wrist in the frontal plane

Front 19

Ulnar deviation

Back 19

Adduction of the wrist in the frontal plane

Front 20

Opposition

Back 20

Diagonal movement of thumb across the palmar surface of the hand to make contact with the fifth digit

Front 21

Eversion

Back 21

Abducting the ankle

Front 22

Inversion

Back 22

Adducting the ankle

Front 23

Dorsiflexion

Back 23

Flexing the ankle so that the foot moves anteriorly in the sagittal plane

Front 24

Plantarflexion

Back 24

Extending the ankle so that the foot moves posteriorly in the sagittal plane

Front 25

Pronation (foot/ankle)

Back 25

Combined movements of abduction and eversion resulting in lowering of the medial margin of the foot

Front 26

Supination (foot/ankle)

Back 26

Combined movements of adduction and inversion resulting in raising of the medial margin of the foot