The document defines 12 terms used to describe joint movement from a baseline position: flexion and extension refer to decreasing and increasing the angle at a joint; abduction and adduction refer to movement away from and toward the body's midline; rotation and circumduction refer to movement around an axis and a combination of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction; plantar flexion and dorsiflexion refer to pointing the toes down and pulling the foot back; pronation and supination refer to rotating the forearm to turn the palm over and back; inversion and eversion refer to medial and lateral rotation of the foot.

1. Joint Movement
 The following 12 terms are used to
describe the movement of joints in
the body from a baseline position (the
anatomical position)

2. Joint Movement – Flexion & Extension
 Flexion – decreasing the angle
at a joint
 E.g. bending the joint
 Extension – Increasing the
angle at a joint
 E.g. straightening a joint

3. Joint Movement – Abduction &
Adduction
 Abduction – Movement
away from the mid-line of
the body
 Adduction – Movement
towards the midline of
the body

4. Joint Movement – Rotation &
Circumduction
 Rotation – Movement
around a long axis
 Circumduction –
Combination of flexion,
extension, abduction and
adduction

5. Joint Movement – Plantar Flexion &
Dorsi Flexion
 Plantar Flexion –
Pointing the toes or
planting the toes down
against the ground
 Dorsiflexion – Pulling the
foot back towards the
body

6. Joint Movement – Pronation &
Supination
 Pronation – Medial
rotation of the forearm.
Turning the palm of the
hand over.
 Supination – Lateral
rotation of the forearm.
Turning the palm back to
the anatomical position.

7. Joint Movement – Inversion &
Eversion
 Inversion – Medial
rotation of the foot
 Eversion – Lateral
rotation of the foot