INTRODUCTION
TO KINESIOLOGY
KINESIOLOGY IS…
THE STUDY OF
HUMAN
MOVEMENT
ANATOMICAL POSITION
MIDLINE OF THE BODY
TODAY’S WORDS ARE…
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Adduction
Okay, so why all the fancy words?
FLEXION
Any
movement
that
decreases
the angle
between two
body parts
EXTENSION
Any
movement
that increases
the angle
between two
body parts
INCREASING AND
DECREASING ANGLES?
It may also be
helpful to think
about flexion as
“shortening” and
extension as
“lengthening”
ABDUCTION
Movement
away from
the midline
of the
body
ADDUCTION
Movement
towards
the midline
of the
body
CRITICAL THINKING
Why
can hips and
shoulders perform
abduction and adduction,
but knees and elbows
cannot?
HORIZONTAL ABDUCTION
Movement away
from the midline
of the body in
the horizontal
plane
HORIZONTAL ADDUCTION
Movement
toward the
midline of the
body in the
horizontal plane
PRONATION
Rotation of the
hand and
forearm resulting
in the palm
facing down
SUPINATION
Rotation of the
hand and forearm
resulting in the
palm facing up
PLANTAR FLEXION
Downward
movement
at the ankle
joint
DORSIFLEXION
Upward
movement
at the
ankle joint
GROUP PRACTICE
COLLABORATION
 Work
with your groups and list as many
examples as you can for each of the
following movements:
 Flexion
 Extension
 Abduction
 Adduction
CHALLENGE

Write your name and period at the top of the
paper

Number your paper 1-10

Watch the movement demonstration and write
the name of the movement indicated by the
instructor

Each term will be used only once

We will collect the papers first and then review
WORD BANK
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Adduction
Horizontal
Abduction
Horizontal
Adduction
Pronation
Supination
Plantar Flexion
Dorsiflexion