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Flexion and extension of the elbow, wrist, shoulder, hip and trunk in the sagittal plane
Continuing Education1 Credit

Lesson 3: Joint Actions

This course introduces the joint actions of the human body. Examples include flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation, horizontal adduction, and horizontal abduction of the hip joint during exercise and movement. Coordination of these joint actions is an integral component of program design and therapeutic intervention.

Course Description: Joint Actions

The motions of bones that are permitted by joints are described with the terms known as “joint actions”. Joint actions are used to improve the accuracy of communication between movement professionals when describing exercise, therapeutic interventions, sport motions, and daily activity. Examples of joint actions include flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, horizontal adduction, horizontal abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation. Movement professionals can use knowledge of joint actions to aid in analyzing motion; for example, a wide-grip (conventional) pull-up is shoulder joint adduction, and a close-grip (chin-up) pull-up is shoulder extension. Or, during a lunge the hip joint performs extension, the knee joint performs extension, and the ankle joint performs plantar flexion. The joint actions correspond to recruitment of muscles, which may have a significant effect on exercise and technique selection. In summary, sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, etc.) must know joint actions to communicate with other professionals, analyze movement, and develop sophisticated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Note, joint actions also correspond to the planes of motion discussed in the previous lesson (Example: flexion and extension are sagittal plane joint actions). Further, joint actions are essential knowledge for upcoming lessons discussing the function of synovial joints (e.g. pivot joints, gliding joints, hinge joints, etc.), connective tissue (ligaments, tendons, etc.), muscle actions (e.g. eccentric, concentric, etc.), etc.

Flexion and extension of the elbow, wrist, shoulder, hip and trunk in the sagittal plane
Caption: Flexion and extension of the elbow, wrist, shoulder, hip and trunk in the sagittal plane

Study Guide: Joint Actions

Video Lesson: Joint Actions

Activities

Bibliography

Copyright

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