Movement Analysis: Planes of Movement

Movement Analysis: Planes of Movement

Understanding Planes of Movement

• There are three planes of movement in the human body that we use to describe how our body moves within space. They are sagittal, frontal and transverse plane.
• These three planes intersect at right angles and divide the body into sections.

Sagittal Plane

• The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right.
• Movements in the sagittal plane include forward and backward movements like walking, squatting, jumping, and cycling.
• Movements in the sagittal plane are paired with the medial and lateral axis, which means the body or a limb rotates around an axis running from the front to the back of the body.

Frontal Plane

• The frontal plane divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections.
• Movements include sideways (lateral) movements as seen when performing shoulder abductions, lateral flexion of the spine, side-stepping, and jumping jacks.
• Movements in the frontal plane revolve around an anterior and posterior axis, which means the body or a limb rotates around an axis running from the front to the back of the body.

Transverse Plane

• The transverse plane divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts.
• Rotational or twisting movements occur in the transverse plane, such as when twisting lid off a jar, when a gymnast spins in the air, or when a football player turns to pass the ball.
• Movements in the transverse plane revolve around a vertical axis, meaning the body or a limb rotates around an axis running from the top to the bottom of the body.

Significance of Planes of Movement

• Planes of movement are crucial in analysing how the body moves during different sporting activities.
• This knowledge can be used to perfect a technique, optimise performance, and reduce injury risk in physical education.
• Every movement falls within a plane of movement, and many movements fall within more than one.