American College of Sports Medicine

The Brookbush Institute is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# {{aotaCourseApprovalNumber}}. This distance learning-independent activity is offered at {{aotaCredits}} CEUs {{aotaLevel}} {{aotaCategory}}.  AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.

American Occupational Therapy Association

New York Physical Therapist just a disclaimer The Brookbush Institute (B2C Fitness) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy as an approved provider of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant continuing education.

New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy

This activity is provided by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Accredited Provider 2309052TX and meets continuing competence requirements for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure renewal in Texas.

Texas Physical Therapy Association

World Instructor Training Schools

Completion of this course will earn you {{credits}} non-contact hours of continuing education in "Anatomy and Physiology" with Yoga Alliance

Yoga Alliance

PTA Global

International Sports Sciences Association

The Brookbush Institute (BOC AP# P10038) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for a maximum of {{credits}} hours/ Category A CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.

Board Of Certification

Athletics and Fitness Association of America

National Academy of Sports Medicine

Canadian Fitness Professionals

Providers of Approved Continuing Education

REPs Ireland

ACE Course ID: {{aceId}} and Credits: {{aceCredits}}

American Council on Exercise

This course introduces the types of synovial joints in the human body. The types of synovial joints include hinge joints, ball and socket joints, facet joints, pivot joints, gliding joints, saddle joints, and ellipsoid (condyloid) joints. 

Lesson 4: Synovial Joints

Access to all courses with monthly membership

Brookbush Institute

I have almost completed my CPT certification and am half-way through the Human Movement certification to inform my massage practice. The different modalities of reading, watching audiovisual materials, and attending live or recorded webinars have been important to my learning style and for review.

Brookbush Institute has the most detailed, specific and effective tools for online learning for movement and/or bodywork professionals. I love the combination of the videos as well as the text available online.

I recently completed the CPT course. It was demanding yet practical. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting an education about human movement.

I have my personal trainer certificate through here and am almost finished my human movement specialist certification. Overall, the education that Brookbush has packaged together for clinicians and trainers is invaluable. I am a physio assistant so coming from more of a rehab background I appreciate that this education has been beneficial both as a trainer and in a rehab setting. I love that I have been able to do all learning at my own pace and able to work around my schedule. Thank you for setting up this platform! Highly recommend :)

I have been a massage therapist for 10 yrs and I feel like all the “pieces” I’ve learned throughout the yrs have been put into place and can see the full picture. I am also a member to tons of great content since I love to learn! I plan to get my CPT through them as well.

I have been following Brent Brookbush for nearly a decade- back when I was a personal Trainer and now as a Physical Therapist. BBI is an incredible resource for any movement nerds and corrective exercise specialists! The information is thorough with multiple real world applications. I am looking forward to an in-person Manual Therapist course the second they do one a little bit closer to Virginia ;)

I have taken both the Human Movement Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer certificate programs and have found the value in understanding the how and ways the body moves and functions and from evidence, non-biased, outcome, conceptual, theoretical, and practical approach to helping my clients/patients look better, feel better, and move better.

Over the last years I've returned time and again to Brookbush Institute for stellar coursework as I've worked toward a Human Movement Specialist certification. (I'm currently ACE CPT, and in training with Anatomy Trains for Structural Integration Manual Therapy.) Every Brookbush Institute module is fantastic and each one includes detailed informational videos, written descriptions of how to-do, and, more importantly, why to-do!

I am a 70 yr old chiropractor and no other healthcare provider was able to come up with an exercise protocol particular to my structural and balances and muscle deficits and keep me in the game. And as for continuing education on human skeletal movement, the website is phenomenal full of great exercises for particular mechanical dysfunction.

The H.M.S. is the most valuable certificate I have earned and was a fraction of the the cost of my others. Define the best bang for your buck!

Brookbush is the most efficient Personal Training Certification I have ever come across. All the lessons are well thought out and very straight to the point.

I am getting my Master's degree in Kinesiology, and I would like to say that I have benefited greatly from the rich, comprehensive, well-documented scientific content of Brookbush Institute that links theory to practical applications. Proudly I've got my CPT certificate, and I am on my way to get my HMS certificate.

Having courses count towards different certifications makes it so users can transition seamlessly from one certification to another. In my case, going from earning the BI CPT to earning the BI HMS was an easy decision and I am proud to have earned both certifications. I have also had the pleasure of going to a Live HMS workshop that was well taught by Instructor Boettcher and that was excellent to see how the methods and techniques are implemented.



I have been a member of BBI for years and every course I have taken has been incredibly informative. I learn more from these courses than I do at local CEU courses for my PTA license. I also earned my CPT and HMS certifications through the platform. It was so convenient and the content was top notch! Forever member.

We learn principles in academia, we learn cool new modalities via whatever specialty certification, but BBI really concentrates on the nuances of passive treatment and they do a fantastic job. The format in which BBI instructs soft tissue specialists (DPTs, Chiros, ATs) like myself feels like almost like an apprenticeship. You get a thoroughly detailed explanation of the “why’s”, and a visual comprehension of how to apply. Personally, I believe application is where the good and the great are distinguished.

Brookbush has been incredibly helpful since I was in massage school and now as I’m in my career! I run my own practice and it gives me the resources I need to not only improve what I already know, but also help me navigate better, more efficient ways of treatment.

Totally loving the convenience and affordability of this program with my crazy lifestyle! I feel like I am getting a quality education without a massive cost! My favorite part is the videos I can watch in the courses. I learn so much better that way. Once I really spent more time on the site, I figured out how to maneuver around a lot better! I enjoy the sense of humor, as well as the easy explanation, and short tests. And if I am really tired, I can have the computer read me the lessons. 😁

Challenging concepts are explained in very understandable terms without dumbing down the material, and I find this program to be superior in quality to other personal training programs.

Home

Courses

Certified Personal Trainer

Synovial joints are the most common joint type in the human body. They have a unique structure that includes a joint capsule, synovial fluid, articular cartilage covering bone surfaces, articular discs, intricate ligament systems to support motion, and often bursae. This unique structure allows for more motion than fibrous joints (also known as immovable joints), and cartilaginous joints (partly moveable joints). 

The synovial joint type, joint shape, joint structure, cartilage, and connective tissue determine how much motion is permitted. Examples of synovial joint types include ball and socket, hinge, pivot, gliding, saddle, and condyloid. Each joint type allows motion in a specific number of planes, and the joint type and available planes of motion correspond to specific joint actions. For example, the elbow joint is a hinge joint, which only allows motion in one plane (sagittal plane), which corresponds to the joint actions of flexion and extension (e.g., biceps curls and triceps extensions). Whereas the shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint, which allows motion in all three planes (sagittal, frontal, and transverse), which correspond with the joint actions of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, horizontal abduction, horizontal adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation (e.g., horizontal adduction during a bench press). Less commonly mentioned joints include the gliding joints of the carpal bones (wrist bones), the saddle joint of the carpometacarpal joint (thumb), or the pivot joint of the proximal radioulnar joint (forearm). Note the lower limb has the same joint types, including a ball and socket joint (hip joint), hinge joint (knee joint), and gliding joints (transverse tarsal joints).

 in which the articular surfaces are shaped so that motion is permitted primarily in one plane. Usually, these joints have a structure resembling a notched surface that fits in a groove. 

The largest hinge joint in the body is the knee. 

 in which the ball-shaped surface of one bone fits a cup-like depression of another bone. The distal bone is capable of motion around an indefinite number of axes with one common center. This enables the joint to move in all planes. 

An example of a ball and socket joint is the hip.

 (trochoid joint, rotary joint, lateral Ginglymus) is a type of diarthrosis. In pivot joints, the axis of a convex joint surface rotates or "spins" along a perpendicular axis of another bone. These joints allow for only rotary movements. 

An example of a pivot joint is the atlantoaxial joint (C1 and C2).

 (arthrodial joint or plane joint) is a synovial joint that allows only gliding movement. The surfaces of the bones are flat or almost flat and only permit sliding or gliding movements in the plane of the joint surfaces. 

An example of gliding joints is the facet joints of the spine.

 (sellar joint), the opposing surfaces are reciprocally concave-convex, similar to the way rounded "U" shapes would fit into one another. This allows motion in 2 planes, similar to how a horseback rider can move in a saddle. 

An example of a saddle joint is the carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb.

 (also called a condylar, ellipsoidal, or bicondylar joint) is an ovoid articular surface that is received into an elliptical cavity. These joints permit movement in 2 planes. 

An example of a condyloid joint is the wrist. 

Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, etc.) must be aware of synovial joint types for the analysis of motion and the development of sophisticated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Note, this lesson builds on the previous lesson discussing joint actions, and will be essential knowledge for further lessons discussing the muscles of the hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, spine, etc. Further, this course is essential knowledge for future courses discussing biomechanics, muscle synergies, movement dysfunction and pain, posture, physical therapy (physical rehabilitation), sports science, sports performance, etc.

Continuing Education and Certification Approved Final Exam

For more advanced anatomy check out our integrated functional anatomy courses:

Sternoclavicular (SC), Acromioclavicular (AC), and Scapulothoracic (ST) Joint Anatomy

An example of the large range of motion in a ball and socket joint found in the shoulder and hip joint. 

Course Summary: Synovial Joints

Types of Synovial Joints Study Guide

Study Guide: Synovial Joints 

In this video we define each synovial joint type and describe how their bony structure influences available range of motion (ROM). This includes ball and socket joints, hinge joints, pivot joints, gliding joints, saddle joints, and condyloid joints (with examples of each). Further, we describe how joint types correspond to planes and joint actions. For example, the shoulder is a ball and socket joint, which allows for flexion and extension in the sagittal plane, adduction and abduction in the frontal plane, and internal rotation, external rotation, horizontal adduction and horizontal abduction in the transverse plane. This is foundational knowledge for all movement professionals, including personal trainers, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athetic trainers, etc.

What is a Joint?

Video Lesson: Joint Types

Joint Actions (All Planes - in small amounts):   

Joint Actions (Mostly Biplanar Joint - Allows for motion in any 2 planes):

Joint Actions (Biplanar Joint - Sagittal and Frontal): 

Note: The knee (tibiofemoral) joint is occasionally referred to as a condyloid joint. In this case, the 2 planes of motion allowed are sagittal and transverse, and the joint actions the knee is capable of are flexion, extension, internal rotation, and external rotation.

The importance of understanding joint structure:

In future lessons, we will be discussing the function of each muscle, and you will be asked to determine the joint actions that each muscle is capable of producing. If you know the type of joint the muscle crosses, you will be able to reduce the possible actions to the few the joint is capable of producing. Regardless of how a muscle attaches to a bone, it is not capable of producing motion restricted by the structure of the joint.

Practical application: As we analyze muscles, we will start each lesson with a "word bank of joint actions" for each joint the muscle crosses.

Common and Technical Names of Joints

The elbow is a hinge joint, allowing for flexion and extension in the sagittal plane

Hinge Joint

An example of the large range of motion in a ball and socket joint found in the shoulder and hip joint

Ball and Socket

Pivot joints with available motions such as internal and external rotation

Pivot Joint

A gliding joint which is located in the tarsals of the foot

Gliding Joint

A saddle joint, such as one in the thumb which will allow for flexion, extension, adduction and abduction

Saddle Joint

Condyloid joints allowing for flexion, extension, adduction and abduction

Condyloid Joint

An x-ray of the shoulder joint, an example of a ball and socket joint, which allows for a large range of motion 

Vertebral bodies interlocking with one another forming the facet joints

Facet joint of the lumbar spine, notice the interlocking of the two bones forming the joint

Answer Key

Synovial Joint Types

Shoulder Joint

Knee Joint

Putting It All Together

Head - spherical shape beyond a narrow neckline portion of bone

Condyle (protrusions) are big segments of bone, usually at the end

Fossa - big cavity, depression, or hollow

Boney Landmarks Terms

Carolyn Richardson, Paul Hodges, Julie Hides. Therapeutic Exercise for Lumbo Pelvic Stabilization – A Motor Control Approach for the Treatment and Prevention of Low Back Pain: 2nd Edition (c) Elsevier Limited, 2004

John V. Basmajian, Carlo J. De Luca. Muscles Alive: Their Function Revealed by ElectroMyography. 1985

Lesson 4: Synovial Joints

Related Courses:

Course Summary: Synovial Joints

Study Guide: Synovial Joints

Video Lesson: Joint Types
1 Sub Section

Synovial Joint Types
8 Sub Sections

Putting It All Together
2 Sub Sections

Boney Landmarks Terms

Bibliography

Related Courses:

Comments

Guest

Lesson 4: Synovial Joints

Related Courses:

Course Summary: Synovial Joints

Study Guide: Synovial Joints

Video Lesson: Joint Types1 Sub Section

Synovial Joint Types8 Sub Sections

Putting It All Together2 Sub Sections

Boney Landmarks Terms

Bibliography

Related Courses:

Comments

Guest

Video Lesson: Joint Types
1 Sub Section

Synovial Joint Types
8 Sub Sections

Putting It All Together
2 Sub Sections