Major Body Segments Research Paper

The six fundamental movements of major body segments are:
1. Flexion: a decrease in the angle between two body segments.
a. Example exercise – utilize the arm curl machine to perform preacher curls, flexion occurs at the elbow.
2. Extension: an increase in the angle between two body segments or the opposite of flexion.
a. Example exercise – utilize the leg extension machine to perform quadriceps workout, extension occurs at knee.
b. Hyperextension: extension of a limb or part beyond the normal limit.
i. Example exercise – utilize the standing up hip machine, hyperextension occurs at the hip joint when the leg is lifted behind the body.
3. Abduction: movement of a body part away from the midline.
a. Example exercise – utilize the hip abductor machine to perform standing side leg raises, abduction occurs when the legs move apart.
4. Adduction: movement of a body part towards the midline or the return from abduction.
a. Example exercise – utilize the hip abductor machine to
Example exercise – utilize cable machine or resistance band to perform shoulder external rotation exercise, rotation occurs when the upper arm moves towards the midline and away from the midline.
6. Circumduction: the sequential combination of movement outlining a geometric cone.
a. Example exercise – perform shoulder circles
An exercise that combines three or more of the primary movements is the standing squat.
1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms out to your side or folded across your chest.
2. Keep your back straight and head up, squat your buttocks downwards until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
a. Prevent your knees from extending over your toes.
b. Keep your feet firmly on the floor.
3. Return to a standing position.
In the effort phase, hip extension/slight adduction, knee extension and ankle plantar flexion are the movements involved. In the recovery phase hip flexion/slight abduction, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion are the joint movements