Introduction to human movement
› We live in a three-dimensional world. Our bodies
need the ability to move in all three dimensions.
› Poor range of motion and instability in just a single
joint can cause over compensation. These alternate
movement patterns can lead to chronic pain and
injury. By improving three-dimensional movement,
you reduce your risk for injury and are more likely to
achieve your fitness (and life) goals.
Sagittal Plane:
Cuts the body into left
and
right
halves.
Forward and backward
movements.
If
an
exercise is primarily
made up of flexion and
extension
joint
motions, it is classified
in the sagittal plane.
SAGITTAL PLANE
EXERCISES
BACK SQUAT
When flexing and extending
the lower extremity as
such,
the
knees
are
tracking parallel to the
imaginary plate that cuts
the body into left and right
halves. Additionally, the
hips move back and down,
similarly staying in line with
the track of the sagittal
plane.
BICEP CURL
Similar to the ankle, knee,
and hips during a squat,
the bicep curl goes through
flexion and extension of the
wrist, elbow and shoulder,
staying on track parallel to
the sagittal plane.
Coronal (or Frontal
Plane):
Cuts the body into front
and back halves. Side-toside
movements.
The
coronal plane is then
represented by a plate
that cuts the body into
front and back halves,
creating an imaginary
track that the body follows
when performing side-toside movements.
CORONAL (OR
FRONTAL PLANE)
EXERCISES
LATERAL ARM RAISE
When flexing and extending
the lower extremity as
such,
the
knees
are
tracking parallel to the
imaginary plate that cuts
the body into left and right
halves. Additionally, the
hips move back and down,
similarly staying in line with
the track of the sagittal
plane.
SIDE BEND
The side-to-side bending of
the spine is also a frontal
plane movement, known as
lateral flexion, which, for
example, occurs during
side bend exercises that
work the obliques.
Transverse Plane:
Cuts the body into top
and bottom halves.
Twisting movements.
TRANSVERSE
PLANE EXERCISES
SPINAL ROTATION
Any movement around
this axis is classified in
the transverse plane;
specifically,
rotation
(twisting) of the spine.
Spinal rotation then
simply occurs to either
the left or the right.
SHOULDER AND HIP MOVEMENT
As discussed before, when
the arms and legs adduct
and abduct in line with the
torso their movement is in
the frontal plane. But when
an arm or leg is held at 90
degrees to the body and
moves toward or away from
the center, it becomes
transverse
plane
movement.