Planes of motion are imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the body, used as reference points for describing movements and positions. The human body moves in three-dimensional space, and these three primary planes help organize and communicate about movement.
The Three Primary Planes
1. Sagittal Plane (also called median or anteroposterior plane) - Divides the body into left and right halves - Movements: Flexion and extension - Examples: Walking forward, bicep curls, squats, forward bends - Most human locomotion occurs primarily in this plane
2. Frontal Plane (also called coronal plane) - Divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) halves - Movements: Abduction and adduction, lateral flexion - Examples: Jumping jacks, side lunges, lateral raises, side bends - Important for lateral stability and balance
3. Transverse Plane (also called horizontal or axial plane) - Divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) halves - Movements: Rotation, pronation and supination - Examples: Twisting motions, golf swings, throwing, turning head side-to-side - Critical for power generation in many sports
Clinical and Training Applications
Understanding planes of motion helps:
- Movement Analysis: Categorizing and describing movements systematically
- Training Program Design: Ensuring balanced development across all planes
- Injury Prevention: Identifying single-plane dominance that may create imbalances
- Rehabilitation: Progressively introducing multi-planar movements during recovery
Multi-Planar Movement
Most real-world activities involve movement in multiple planes simultaneously:
- Cutting in sports: Sagittal (deceleration/acceleration) + frontal (lateral motion) + transverse (rotation)
- Throwing: All three planes working together to generate maximum velocity
- Functional daily activities: Rarely occur in a single plane
Video analysis from different camera angles allows assessment of movement in each plane:
- Sagittal view: Best for flexion/extension analysis
- Frontal view: Best for abduction/adduction analysis
- Top-down view: Best for rotational analysis
Understanding which plane(s) movement occurs in helps optimize camera positioning for video analysis and ensures comprehensive movement assessment.