The Planes & Axes of Movement Used During Sport

• Frontal Plane

  • Movement on this plane is from side-to-side
  • The plane can be imagined as a flat surface that divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) halves
  • Movements along a frontal plane include abduction and adduction movements
• Transverse Plane

  • Movement on this plane involves changes in direction
  • The plane can be imagined as a flat surface that divides the body into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) halves
  • Movements on a transverse plane are rotational, or turning, movements
• Sagittal Plane

  • Movement on this plane are forwards or backwards
  • The plane can be imagined as a flat surface that divides the body into left and right halves
  • Movements on a sagittal plane include flexion or extension movements
• Sagittal Axis

  • The axis is a horizontal line that passes through the body from front to back
  • Movements in a frontal plane take place around this sagittal axis
• Sagittal Axis Example

  • Star jumps, or jumping jacks, use abductionwhen arms move outwards and adductionwhen the arms pull back towards the body
  • Cartwheel: the body rotates around a front-back axis during a cartwheel motion
• Longitudinal Axis

  • The axis is a vertical line that passes through the body from top to bottom
  • Movements in a transverse plane take place around this longitudinal axis
• Longitudinal Axis Example

  • Ice skating spin involving a 360° turn
  • Discus throwers spin before releasing the disc
• Transverse Axis

  • The axis is a horizontal line that passes through the body from side to side
  • Movements in a sagittal plane take place around a transverse axis
• Transverse Axis Example

  • Running
  • Forward somersault
• Frontal Plane & Sagittal Axis

  Movement type —> Abduction/Adduction

  Direction of movement —> Side to Side

  Sporting action —> Cartwheel/star jump
• Transverse Plane & Longitudinal Axis

  Movement type —> Rotation

  Direction of movement —> Turning

  Sporting action —> Ice skating spin, Discus throw
• Sagittal Plane & Frontal Axis

  Movement type —> Flexion/Extension

  Direction of movement —> Forward/Backward

  Sporting action —> walking/running, forwards somersault