Identifying Types of Joints

• Hinge Joint

  • A joint that allows movement mostly in ONE direction in and ‘open and closed’ motion
  • This type of motion is called Flexion & Extension
  • E.g —> elbows, knees, ankles
• Ball and Socket Joint

  • Allows movement in MANY DIFFERENT directions
  • Rotate backwards, forwards, sideways
  • Abduction, Adduction, Rotation
  • E.g —> hip and shoulder joints
• Flexion

  • Bending movement decreasing the angle between two bones
  • E.g —> shoulder, elbow, hip, knee
• Extension

  • Moving a bent limb into a straight position
  • E.g —> Shoulder, elbow, hip, knee
• Abduction

  • Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body at a joint
  • Shoulder e.g. raising of the arms into a T-pose
• Adduction

  • Movement of a limb towards the midline of the body at a joint
  • Shoulder e.g. lowering the arms back against the body
• Rotation

  • Movement in a circular motion towards or around the long axis of a limb
  • Shoulder e.g —> bowling a ball in cricket
• Circumduction

  • Movement in a circular motion combining flexion, extension, adduction and abduction
  • Shoulder e.g. when spinning the arm during bowling
• Plantar Flexion

  • Pointing of the toes towards the ground
  • Ankle —> going on tippy toes in ballet
• Dorsiflexion

  • Pulling the toes up away from the ground
  • Ankle