Lesson 2: Planes of Motion

The 3 Planes of Motion

• Sagittal plane: The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves and refers to a motion that is forward, backward, up, and down, such as a squat or suspension row .
• Frontal plane (coronal plane): The frontal plane divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) halves and refers to motion that is side to side and up and down, such as a jumping jack, wide-grip pull-ups , or military press .
• Transverse plane (horizontal plane): The transverse plane divides the body into top and bottom halves and refers to motion in which the arms or legs start parallel to the horizon and come together (horizontal adduction) or spread apart (horizontal abduction) or when joints rotate or pivot. Examples include bench press , axe chops , and seated adduction.

This course also covers the "scapular plane," but it is not included on the exam.

This Course Includes:

• Video Lecture
• Study Guide
• Text of Material
• Learning Activities
• Planes and Exercises Table
• Practice Exam
• Continuing Education and Certification Approved Final Exam
  

Introduction

This course explains the three planes of motion and how they apply to exercise analysis. A plane of motion is a two-dimensional surface with a defined direction. The three anatomical planes of motion are analogous to the cardinal planes and correspond to movement around the axes of the body. The three planes include the sagittal plane, frontal plane (coronal plane), and transverse plane (horizontal plane).

Exercise can be categorized by plane of motion by observing the joint action occurring during the exercise and the plane of motion that joint action occurs parallel to. Consideration of the planes of motion can aid in exercise programming by ensuring that exercises are selected that challenge the body to move and stabilize forces in all 3 planes. For example, most exercises are sagittal plane motions (like a squat), but an activity like getting out of a car requires multiplanar strength. This implies that a program that includes squats may also consider adding lateral movements like lateral lunges (frontal plane) and transverse plane movements like turning step-ups (transverse plane).

Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, etc.) will use the planes of motion to aid in the analysis of movement and the creation of sophisticated exercise programs and intervention plans. Further, the planes of motion are essential for future lessons on joint actions; for example, sagittal plane joint actions include flexion and extension, frontal plane joint actions include adduction and abduction, and transverse plane joint actions include internal and external rotation.

Caption: The sagitall, coronal (frontal), and transverse planes