What is Human Movement?

You may have seen human movement courses offered at a number of educational institutions, but what
is human movement? In simple terms, human movement is the scientific study of how the human body
works, with a particular focus on improving the workings of the human body for sport, fitness and
wellbeing. It covers the physiological, biomechanical and psychological systems of the body.

A sound understanding of human movement is essential for anyone involved in the sports science or
fitness industry. Having an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of the human body and how it works is
the basis for knowing how to increase athletic performance, treat injuries, implement rehabilitation
programs, boost fitness, provide clinical advice and help create a general sense of wellbeing.

http://blog.acpe.edu.au/index.php/health-fitness/human-movement/

Human Movement Science provides a medium for publishing disciplinary and multidisciplinary studies
on human movement. It brings together psychological, biomechanical and neurophysiological research
on the control, organization and learning of human movement, including the perceptual support of
movement. The overarching goal of the journal is to publish articles that help advance theoretical
understanding of the control and organization of human movement, as well as changes therein as a
function of development, learning and rehabilitation.

Human Movement Science

Identify and describe the different types of Human Motion

Key Facts

Flexion Bending

Extension Straightening

Abduction Moving away from the reference axis

Adduction Bringing closer to the reference axis

Protrusion Forward
Retrusion Backward

Elevation Superiorly to the reference axis

Depression Inferiorly to the reference axis

Lateral rotation Rotation away from the midline

Medial rotation Rotation toward the midline

Pronation Medial rotation of the radius, resulting in the palm of the hand facing posteriorly (if in anatomical
position) or inferiorly (if elbow is flexed)

Supination Lateral rotation of the radius, resulting in the palm of the hand facing anteriorly (if in anatomical
position) or superiorly (if elbow is flexed)

Circumduction Combination of: flexion, abduction, extension, adduction

Deviation Ulnar and radial abduction of the wrist

Opposition Bringing the thumb in contact to a finger

Reposition Separating the thumb from the digits

Inversion Plantar side toward the medial plane

Eversion Plantar side away from the medial plane

Concept of movement

Without going into complicated physics explanations and equations, movement involves an entity
moving from point A to point B. The movement is carried out around a fixed axis or fulcrum and has
a direction.

Anatomical movements are no different. They usually involve bones or body parts moving around fixed
joints relative to the main anatomical axes (sagittal, coronal, frontal, etc.) or planes parallel to them.

Therefore, the template of anatomical movements consists of the following (not all of them are required
for every movement):

 Anatomical structures involved in the movement.

 Reference axes around which the movement happens.

https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/types-of-movements-in-the-human-body

Flexion/Extension

The opposing movements of flexion and extension take place in sagittal directions around
transverse axes. Flexion, or bending, involves decreasing the angle between the two
entities taking part in the movement (bones or body parts). In contrast, extension,
or straightening, involves increasing the respective angle.

Knee

Flexion of knee (Flexio articulationis genus)

Flexion and extension of the knee consist of the following:

 Anatomical structures: The tibia of the leg moves relative to the femur of the thigh.

 Reference axes: The movement is in the sagittal plane. The fulcrum is provided by the knee
joint, through which the transverse axis passes.

 Direction: During flexion, the leg moves backwards (posteriorly). During extension, it moves
forwards (anteriorly).

Elbow

Flexion and extension of the elbow joint can be described as follows:

 Anatomical structures: The forearm moves relative to the arm. More precisely, the ulna (one of
the two forearm bones) moves relative to the humerus (bone of the arm).

 Reference axes: The movement is in the sagittal plane. The fulcrum is provided by the elbow
joint, through which the transverse axis passes.

 Direction: During flexion, the forearm moves upwards and ‘closer’ to the arm, resulting in a
decreased angle between them. During extension it straightens, increasing the angle relative to
the arm.
 Shoulder

Flexion of shoulder (Flexio articulationis glenohumeralis)

Flexion and extension of the shoulder occur like this:

 Anatomical structures: The humerus of the arm moves relative to the scapula of the shoulder
blade.

 Reference axes: The movement is in the sagittal plane. The fulcrum is provided by the
shoulder, or glenohumeral joint, through which the transverse axis passes.

 Direction: During flexion, the arm moves anteriorly and upwards (in full flexion). During
extension, it moves posteriorly and downwards. If a full range of motion is performed, it creates
an imaginary arc or semicircle.

Neck

Flexion and extension of the neck follow the format below:

Flexion of neck (Flexio cervicis)

Anatomical structures: The skull and cervical vertebrae of the neck move relative to
the thoracic vertebrae and upper back.

 Reference axes: The movement is in the sagittal plane. The ‘fulcrum’ is not fixed due to the
anatomy and movement of the cervical vertebrae, but it can loosely be positioned through the
upper thoracic vertebrae. The transverse axis passes through them.

 Direction: During flexion, the head and neck move anteriorly and downwards (in full flexion).
Essentially, you are looking down. During extension, it moves posteriorly and slightly
downwards.

Vertebral column

Flexion and extension of the vertebral column follow the following movement template:

Flexion of vertebral column(Flexio columnae vertebralis)

Anatomical structures: The vertebral column moves relative to the sacrum and hip bone.
 Reference axes: The movement is in the sagittal plane. You can imagine the ‘fulcrum’ as being
loosely through the two hip bones and sacrum. The transverse axis passes through them.

 Direction: During flexion, when you are bending forward, the vertebral column moves anteriorly
and downwards (in full flexion). During extension, it moves backwards and slightly downwards.

Foot

In the world of anatomy, flexion of the foot is referred to as dorsiflexion and

Plantarflexion is flexion of the plantar (underside) part of the foot by moving it down.
This movement happens when you are standing on your toes or pointing them.