Planes of Movement

1. Planes of Movement To be able to explain how the body moves, it is useful to see the body as having imaginary lines (or planes) running through it. These planes divide the body in three ways: It is worth noting that, in sport, most movements are classed as multi-planar. These means that they occur in all the movement planes. For example, a dancer can spin, leap and bend all at the same time (resulting in a multi-planar movement)

2. Frontal Plane Vertical and divides the body into two sections: • Front – known as anterior • Back – known as posterior Movements in this plane are sideways: • Adduction • Abduction Sporting examples: • Legs during star jumps • Hip action during breast stroke

3. Transverse Plane Divides the body into two sections: • Upper – known as superior • Lower – known as inferior Movements in this plane are usually circular: • Rotation • Circumduction Sporting examples: • Arm action during cricket bowl • Arm action during front crawl

4. Sagittal Plane Vertical and divides the body into two sections: • Left • Right Movements in this plane are up and down: • Flexion • Extension Sporting examples: • Bicep Curl • Leg Action when running

5. Axes of Rotation As well as movement occurring through planes there is also an axis of rotation. This is the centre point where something rotates around. Again there are three axes of rotation: Frontal Transverse