I am confused about the planes in the body can you help me better understand how this actually relates to exercise as I have read that section 5 times now and I still don’t get it… help?
Bruce, good afternoon I hope you are well and having a great Thursday. With regard to your question, don’t be so hard on yourself as this is not an easy concept to understand. In order to determine which plane of motion an exercise is occurring in, it would behoove you to first know the primary muscle being used and then it’s intended action as it is easiest to remember the planes if you break them down into actions of the joints.
If the motion involves flexion or extension it is most likely in the sagital plane: neck, shoulder, elbow, writs, trunk, hip, knee and or ankle flexion and extension all occur in the sagital plane.
If the motion involves some form of rotation, then it is most likely in horizontal plane: trunk rotation, supination, and pronation
For the final plane, the frontal plane, if you have ever made snow or sand angels, all the movements you could potentially make while lying down without raising your body off the ground would in essence be in the frontal plane: adduction, abduction, depression, elevation, lateral (side to side) trunk flexion, etc. Now imagine all those same movements but in a standing position.
