Planes and axes of movement

• Planes of movement

  • Sagittal plane
  • Transverse plane
  • Frontal plane
• Sagittal plane


  Divides the body into left and right sides
• Transverse plane


  Divides the body into top and bottom
• Frontal plane


  Divides the body's front and back
• Axis of rotation


  An imaginary line which runs through the body and around which a body part (or the whole body) moves
• Axes of rotation

  • Frontal axis
  • Longitudinal axis
  • Transverse axis
• Frontal axis


  Runs through the body from front to back
• Longitudinal axis


  Runs through the body from left to right
• Transverse axis


  Runs through the body from top to bottom
• Movement types and associated plane and axis

  • Flexion/extension - sagittal plane, transverse axis
  • Abduction/adduction - frontal plane, frontal axis
  • Rotation - transverse plane, longitudinal axis
• Sport movements

  • Tucked and piked somersaults, running, forward roll - sagittal plane, transverse axis
  • Cartwheel - frontal plane, frontal axis
  • Full twist jump (trampolining), discus throw rotation, ice skating spin - transverse plane, longitudinal axis