Download Orientating ourselves

Orientating ourselves
How movements are described, and official terms for directions and orientation
Movements
Flexion
Flexion is (mostly) closing a joint. The major exception is shoulder flexion – which is when the
arm is raised.
The spine is flexed when we curl over.
Extension
Extension is opening a joint, except for the shoulder when the arm is brought down.
The spine is extended when we uncurl, or arch backwards.
Abduction
A movement away from the body‘s centre, towards the outside, is abduction.
Adduction
Adduction is the opposite of abduction – moving towards the body’s middle.
Rotation
Rotation is a movement around an axis. Think of a wheel spinning in snow, or a pirouette.
Supination
Turning the lower arm so that the thumb is outside, or turning the foot inside edge up so that
the big toe leaves the floor are both supination.
Pronation
The opposite of supination, is pronation – thumb turns towards the inside, and little toe
leaves the floor.
Pelvis movements
Naturally, movements of the pelvis are simultaneously movements of the lower back. When
standing against a wall it is possible to roll the pelvis in to press the lower back against the wall. This
is tipping the pelvis backwards, or posterior (see table below). The opposite, rolling the pelvis out to
increase the space between the wall and the lower back. This position, very commonly seen in
dancers, is called anterior pelvis (tipped forwards).
Planes and axes
A plane is a theoretical surface that can be projected upon or into a body. It gives a twodimensional cross-section at any level of the body, upon which we can analyse or measure
movements. There are three planes, all perpendicular to one another.
Orientating ourselves. M.Squire,BAC PHfT. Dezember 2015
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An axis is an imaginary line through a single point around which movements can be
measured. The movement takes place in a certain plane, around a certain axis. Therefore, as there
are three planes, there are three axes.
The Frontal Plane
This is also called the „coronary“ plane, and is projected onto the body parallel to the
forehead.
One can compare all the joint pairs on the frontal plane (eyes, shoulders, knees etc).
Through the frontal plane we can project an axis, called the sagital axis, which is like an arrow
going from front to back. This axis describes movements of abduction and adduction.
Orientating ourselves. M.Squire,BAC PHfT. Dezember 2015
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Groupwork:
- Describe the frontal plane and the sagital axis to the other groups, giving 5 examples of
bodily movements and 5 Dance movements performed on this plane around this axis.
- Try and include as much of the new vocabulary as possible!
The Sagittal Plane
The sagital plane can be imagined as cutting the body from front to back.
Perpendicular to the sagital plane, is the transversal axis which is the axis of flexion and
extension.
Groupwork:
- Describe the sagital plane and the transversal axis to the other groups, giving 5 examples of
bodily movements and 5 Dance movements performed on this plane around this axis
- Try and include as much of the new vocabulary as possible!
Orientating ourselves. M.Squire,BAC PHfT. Dezember 2015
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The Transversal Plane
The transversal plane can be imagined as a horizontal cut through the body. It can be
imagined at any height in the body, but is always parallel to the foot sole.
This axis which is perpendicular to the transversal plane, is the axis up and down through the
length of the body and is used to describe rotations.
Groupwork:
- Describe the transversal plane and the longitudinal axis to the other groups, giving 5
examples of bodily movements and 5 Dance movements performed on this plane around this
axis
- Try and include as much of the new vocabulary as possible!
Orientating ourselves. M.Squire,BAC PHfT. Dezember 2015
Seite 4
Orientating oneself within the body/room
cranial
Towards the head
caudal
Towards the feet
medial
Towards the body’s centre/ inner
lateral
Away from the body’s centre/ outer
anterior
Front
posterior
Back
superior
Upper
inferior
Lower
ventral
Front side
dorsal
Back side
palmar
(towards) the palm of the hand
plantar
(towards) the sole of the foot
proximal
distal
Near the body’s centre
Away from the body’s centre
supination
Turning the thumb or the big toe out to the
outside
pronation
Turning the thumb or the big toe down
towards the middle (inside)
supine
Laying face up
prone
Laying face down
Lordosis
Kyphosis
Hyper-
Spine curve in the sagital plane, concave
towards the back (or convex to the front)
As above, convex towards the back (or
concave to the front)
More than normal
Orientating ourselves. M.Squire,BAC PHfT. Dezember 2015
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Hypo-
Less than normal
Orientating ourselves. M.Squire,BAC PHfT. Dezember 2015
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