Glossary
Physiotherapy Technology Glossary
This glossary is a list of different movements that the human body can perform; obviously, there are others. However, this glossary will serve as a reference for those who want to visualize the movements and learn more about the names of body movements.
- abduction movement
- phrase
- The anatomical action of moving a limb or body part away from the midline of the body.
- Example: The deltoid muscle allows ABDUCTION of the arm at the shoulder, thus raising the upper limb laterally.
- fr: mouvement d'abduction
- adduction movement
- phrase
- Adduction is the movement of a joint or body part inward toward the midline.
- Example: The hip ADDUCTION MOVEMENT allows the knees to be brought together.
- fr: mouvement d'adduction
- circumduction
- noun
- The conical movement of a limb or body part, where one end remains relatively fixed (proximal) while the other end describes a circle (distal).
- Example: CIRCUMDUCTION combines successively flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction.
- fr: circumduction
- depression of the scapula
- phrase
- The downward, caudal motion of the shoulder blades away from the ears, acting as the opposite of elevation.
- Example: During the exercise, focus on maintaining SCAPULA DEPRESSION to keep your shoulders stable.
- fr: abaissement de la scapula
- elevation of the scapula
- phrase
- The superior (upward) movement of the shoulder blades (scapula) along the ribcage toward the ears.
- Example: Hypertonicity of the trapezius muscle can lead to a permanent ELEVATION OF THE SCAPULA, thus altering the posture of the neck and shoulders.
- fr: élévation de la scapula
- extension
- noun
- A movement that increases the angle between two body parts or bones at a joint, generally acting to straighten a limb or body part.
- Example: EXTENDING the knee allows the leg to be straightened.
- fr: extension
- external rotation
- phrase
- External rotation, also called lateral rotation, is a circular movement of a limb or body part away from the midline of the body, where the front surface of the joint turns outward, like turning your arm to swing it out to the side or rotating your thigh outward when standing.
- Example: For EXTERNAL ROTATION, just let your arm roll outward so your shoulder turns gently away from your body.
- fr: rotation externe
- flexion
- noun
- The action of bending or the condition of being bent, especially the bending of a limb or joint.
- Example: Examine the extent to which passive insufficiency in the hamstrings affects the critical FLEXION angles in the hip joint..
- fr: flexion
- horizontal abduction movement
- phrase
- A transverse plane movement where the limbs—specifically the arms —move away from the body's midline while held parallel to the ground.
- Example: During this strength training exercise, the practitioner performs a HORIZONTAL ABDUCTION of the arm to work the back.
- fr: mouvement d'abduction horizontale
- horizontal adduction movement
- phrase
- A joint movement, primarily at the shoulder, where the arm moves toward the body's midline in the horizontal (transverse) plane, parallel to the ground.
- Example: The patient experiences sharp pain in the front of the shoulder during HORIZONTAL ADDUCTION MOVEMENTS, which could indicate a lesion of the pectoralis major tendon.
- fr: mouvement d'adduction horizontale
- inferior rotation of the scapula
- phrase
- Inferior rotation of the scapula, or downward rotation, is the scapulothoracic motion where the inferior angle moves medially and downward toward the spine, while the glenoid fossa tilts to face downward.
- Example: Try to let your shoulder blade turn gently downward as you lower your arm — that’s the INFERIOR ROTATION I’m looking for.
- fr: rotation inférieure de la scapula
- internal rotation
- phrase
- Internal rotation, also called medial rotation, is a turning or spinning movement where the front of a body part moves towards the midline of the body, common in ball-and-socket joints like the shoulder and hip.
- Example: For INTERNAL ROTATION, just let your arm roll inward so your shoulder turns gently toward your body.
- fr: rotation interne
- pronation
- noun
- The rotational movement of the forearm that turns the palm downward or posteriorly.
- Example: In young children, a sudden pull on the arm can cause painful PRONATION.
- fr: pronation
- radial deviation
- phrase
- The movement of bending the wrist towards the thumb side of the forearm, occurring in the frontal plane.
- Example: A poorly healed fracture of the radius can limit the range of RADIAL DEVIATION.
- fr: déviation radiale
- scapular protraction
- phrase
- Scapular protraction is the forward (anterior) and lateral movement of the shoulder blades (scapulae) away from the spine and around the rib cage.
- Example: SCAPULAR PROTRACTION allows the shoulder blade to be moved forward by primarily activating the serratus anterior.
- fr: protraction de la scapula
- scapular retraction
- phrase
- Scapular retraction is the anatomical movement of pulling the shoulder blades (scapulae) backward toward the spine, often described as squeezing them together.
- Example: During the exam, I’d like you to do a SCAPULAR RETRACTION, so I can see how your upper back moves.
- fr: rétraction de la scapula
- superior rotation of the scapula
- phrase
- Superior rotation of the scapula (or upward rotation) is the movement of the scapula where the glenoid cavity (socket) tilts upward and the inferior angle moves laterally (outward) and superiorly.
- Example: UPWARD ROTATION OF THE SCAPULA helps stabilize the shoulder during arm elevation.
- fr: rotation supérieure de la scapula
- supination
- noun
- The rotational movement of the forearm which turns the palm upwards or forwards, positioning the radius and ulna parallel to each other.
- Example: Carrying a bowl of soup in front of you requires keeping your hands in a SUPINATED position.
- fr: supination
- thumb opposition
- phrase
- Thumb opposition is the complex, 3-joint movement (flexion, abduction, and rotation) that brings the thumb across the palm to touch the tip of any other finger on the same hand.
- Example: For THUMB OPPOSITION, just bring your thumb across your palm toward your little finger.
- fr: opposition du pouce
- ulnar deviation
- phrase
- Ulnar deviation is the side-to-side motion where you tilt your hand toward your little finger.
- Example: To avoid musculoskeletal disorders, it is advisable to use an ergonomic keyboard that allows typing without maintaining the wrist in prolonged ULNAR DEVIATION.
- fr: déviation ulnaire