Manual of Structural

Kinesiology
R. T. Floyd EdD, ATC, CSCS
Director of Athletic Training and Sports Medicine
Professor of Physical Education and Athletic Training
Chair, Department of Physical Education and
Athletic Training
The University of West Alabama
(formerly Livingston University)
Livingston, Alabama

NINETEENTH EDITION
MANUAL OF STRUCTURAL KINESIOLOGY, NINTEENTH EDITION

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Floyd, R. T., author.
Manual of structural kinesiology.—Nineteenth edition/R.T. Floyd, EdD, ATC, CSCS, Director of Athletic
Training and Sports Medicine, Professor of Physical Education and Athletic Training, Chair, Department
of Physical Education and Athletic Training, the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston
University), Livingston, Alabama.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-07-336929-7 (paperback: acid-free paper) 1. Kinesiology. 2. Human locomotion.
3. Muscles. I. Title.
QP303.T58 2015
612.7’6—dc23
2014000497

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website does not indicate an endorsement by the authors or McGraw-Hill Education, and McGraw-Hill
Education does not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented at these sites.

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Chapter

A B C

FIG. 1.21 • Joint movements. A, Examples of sagittal plane movements: extension of left toes, ankle (plantar
flexion), knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers, lumbar and cervical spine; flexion of right toes, ankle
(dorsiflexion), knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. B, Examples of frontal plane movements:
abduction of left transverse tarsal/subtalar joints (eversion), shoulder, wrist, fingers, and shoulder girdle
(upward rotation), lumbar (lateral flexion to right) and cervical spine (lateral flexion to left), and right hip;
adduction of right transverse tarsal/subtalar joints (inversion), shoulder, wrist, fingers, and shoulder girdle
(downward rotation). C, Examples of transverse plane movements: internal rotation of right hip, left shoulder,
radioulnar joints (pronation); external rotation of left knee, hip, right shoulder, radioulnar joints (supination),
and lumbar (right rotation) and cervical spine (right rotation).

Terms describing general fashion around a fixed point, either clockwise or

movements
Abduction: Lateral movement away from the mid-
line of the trunk in the frontal plane. An example
is raising the arms or legs to the side horizontally.
Adduction: Movement medially toward the midline
of the trunk in the frontal plane. An example is
lowering the arm to the side or the thigh back to
the anatomical position.
Flexion: Bending movement that results in a decrease
of the angle in a joint by bringing bones together,
usually in the sagittal plane. An example is the
elbow joint when the hand is drawn to the shoulder.
Extension: Straightening movement that results in an
increase of the angle in a joint by moving bones apart,
usually in the sagittal plane. Using the elbow, an exam-
ple is when the hand moves away from the shoulder.
Circumduction: Circular movement of a limb
that delineates an arc or describes a cone. It
is a combination of flexion, extension, abduc-
tion, and adduction. Sometimes referred to as
circumflexion. An example is when the shoul-
der joint or the hip joint moves in a circular
counterclockwise.
Diagonal abduction: Movement by a limb through
a diagonal plane away from the midline of the
body, such as in the hip or glenohumeral joint.
Diagonal adduction: Movement by a limb through
a diagonal plane toward and across the midline of
the body, such as in the hip or glenohumeral joint.
External rotation: Rotary movement around the
longitudinal axis of a bone away from the midline
of the body. Occurs in the transverse plane and is
also known as rotation laterally, outward rotation,
and lateral rotation.
Internal rotation: Rotary movement around the
longitudinal axis of a bone toward the midline of
the body. Occurs in the transverse plane and is
also known as rotation medially, inward rotation,
and medial rotation.
Terms describing ankle
and foot movements
Eversion: Turning the sole of the foot outward
or laterally in the frontal plane; abduction. An

22 www.mhhe.com/floyd19e

example is standing with the weight on the inner
edge of the foot.
Inversion: Turning the sole of the foot inward or
medially in the frontal plane; adduction. An exam-
ple is standing with the weight on the outer edge
of the foot.
Dorsal flexion (dorsiflexion): Flexion movement
of the ankle that results in the top of the foot mov-
ing toward the anterior tibia in the sagittal plane.
Plantar flexion: Extension movement of the ankle
that results in the foot and/or toes moving away
from the body in the sagittal plane.
Pronation: A position of the foot and ankle result-
ing from a combination of ankle dorsiflexion, sub-
talar eversion, and forefoot abduction (toe-out).
Supination: A position of the foot and ankle result-
ing from a combination of ankle plantar flexion,
subtalar inversion, and forefoot adduction (toe-in).
Terms describing radioulnar
joint movements
Pronation: Internally rotating the radius in the trans-
verse plane so that it lies diagonally across the ulna,
resulting in the palm-down position of the forearm.
Supination: Externally rotating the radius in the
transverse plane so that it lies parallel to the ulna,
resulting in the palm-up position of the forearm.
Terms describing shoulder girdle
(scapulothoracic) movements
Depression: Inferior movement of the shoulder
girdle in the frontal plane. An example is return-
ing to the normal position from a shoulder shrug.
Elevation: Superior movement of the shoulder gir-
dle in the frontal plane. An example is shrugging
the shoulders.
Protraction (abduction): Forward movement of
the shoulder girdle in the horizontal plane away
from the spine. Abduction of the scapula.
Retraction (adduction): Backward movement of
the shoulder girdle in the horizontal plane toward
the spine. Adduction of the scapula.
Rotation downward: Rotary movement of the scap-
ula in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the
scapula moving medially and downward. Occurs pri-
marily in the return from upward rotation. The infe-
rior angle may actually move upward slightly as the
scapula continues in extreme downward rotation.
Rotation upward: Rotary movement of the scapula
in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the
scapula moving laterally and upward.
Chapter
Terms describing shoulder joint 1
(glenohumeral) movements
Horizontal abduction: Movement of the humerus
or femur in the horizontal plane away from the
midline of the body. Also known as horizontal
extension or transverse abduction.
Horizontal adduction: Movement of the humerus
or femur in the horizontal plane toward the mid-
line of the body. Also known as horizontal flexion
or transverse adduction.
Scaption: Movement of the humerus away from the
body in the scapular plane. Glenohumeral abduc-
tion in a plane 30 to 45 degrees between the sagit-
tal and frontal planes.
Terms describing spine movements
Lateral flexion (side bending): Movement of the
head and/or trunk in the frontal plane laterally
away from the midline. Abduction of the spine.
Reduction: Return of the spinal column in the
frontal plane to the anatomic position from lateral
flexion. Adduction of the spine.
Terms describing wrist
and hand movements
Dorsal flexion (dorsiflexion): Extension move-
ment of the wrist in the sagittal plane with the
dorsal or posterior side of the hand moving toward
the posterior side of the forearm.
Palmar flexion: Flexion movement of the wrist in the
sagittal plane with the volar or anterior side of the
hand moving toward the anterior side of the forearm.
Radial flexion (radial deviation): Abduction
movement at the wrist in the frontal plane of the
thumb side of the hand toward the lateral forearm.
Ulnar flexion (ulnar deviation): Adduction move-
ment at the wrist in the frontal plane of the little
finger side of the hand toward the medial forearm.
Opposition of the thumb: Diagonal movement of
the thumb across the palmar surface of the hand to
make contact with the fingers.
Reposition of the thumb: Diagonal movement of
the thumb as it returns to the anatomical position
from opposition with the hand and/or fingers.
These movements are considered in detail in
the chapters that follow as they apply to the indi-
vidual joints.
Combinations of movements can occur. Flexion
or extension can occur with abduction, adduc-
tion, or rotation.
www.mhhe.com/floyd19e 23
Chapter

1 Movement icons (pedagogical feature) displayed on that page. As further explained in

Throughout this text a series of movement icons
will be utilized to represent different joint move-
ments. These icons will be displayed in the page
margins to indicate the joint actions of the muscles
Chapter 2, the actions displayed represent the
movements that occur when the muscle contracts
concentrically. Table 1.7 provides a complete list
of the icons. Refer to them as needed when read-
ing Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

TABLE 1.7 • Movement icons representing joint actions

Shoulder girdle

Scapula
Scapula Scapula Scapula Scapula Scapula upward downward
elevation depression abduction adduction rotation rotation

Glenohumeral

Shoulder Shoulder Shoulder Shoulder

Shoulder Shoulder Shoulder Shoulder external internal horizontal horizontal
flexion extension abduction adduction rotation rotation abduction adduction

Elbow Radioulnar joints

Elbow flexion Elbow extension Radioulnar supination Radioulnar pronation

Wrist

Wrist extension Wrist flexion Wrist abduction Wrist adduction

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 Chapter

TABLE 1.7 (continued) • Movement icons representing joint actions 1

Thumb carpometacarpal joint Thumb metacarpophalangeal joint Thumb interphalangeal joint

Thumb CMC Thumb CMC Thumb CMC Thumb MCP Thumb MCP Thumb IP Thumb IP
flexion extension abduction flexion extension flexion extension
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,
2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th MCP, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th
and 5th MCP and 5th PIP and 5th DIP
PIP, and DIP joints metacarpophalangeal joints
and PIP joints joints joints

2nd–5th
2nd–5th MCP, MCP, PIP, 2nd–5th
PIP, and DIP and DIP MCP and PIP 2nd–5th MCP 2nd–5th MCP 2nd–5th PIP 2nd–5th DIP
flexion extension flexion flexion extension flexion flexion

Hip

Hip external Hip internal

Hip flexion Hip extension Hip abduction Hip adduction rotation rotation

Knee

Knee flexion Knee extension Knee external rotation Knee internal rotation
Ankle Transverse tarsal and subtalar joints

Transverse tarsal and Transverse tarsal and

Ankle plantar flexion Ankle dorsal flexion subtalar inversion subtalar eversion

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Chapter

1 TABLE 1.7 (continued) • Movement icons representing joint actions

Great toe metatarsophalangeal and 2nd–5th metatarsophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal,
interphalangeal joints and distal interphalangeal joints

Great toe MTP and IP Great toe MTP and IP 2nd–5th MTP, PIP, and DIP 2nd–5th MTP, PIP, and DIP
flexion extension flexion extension
Cervical spine

Cervical flexion Cervical extension Cervical lateral f lexion Cervical rotation unilaterally
Lumbar spine

Lumbar rotation
Lumbar flexion Lumbar extension Lumbar lateral flexion unilaterally

Physiological movements versus osteokinematic motion. In order for these osteo-

accessory motions
Movements such as flexion, extension, abduction,
adduction, and rotation occur by the bones moving
through planes of motion about an axis of rotation
at the joint. These movements may be referred to as
physiological movements. The motion of the bones
relative to the three cardinal planes resulting from
these physiological movements is referred to as
kinematic motions to occur, there must be move-
ment between the actual articular surfaces of the
joint. This motion between the articular surfaces is
known as arthrokinematics, and it includes three
specific types of accessory motions. These acces-
sory motions, named specifically to describe the
actual change in relationship between the articular
surface of one bone relative to another, are spin,
roll, and glide (Fig. 1.22).

Roll

FIG. 1.22 • Joint arthrokinematics. A, Spin; B, Roll; C, Glide.

26 www.mhhe.com/floyd19e
 Chapter

FIG. 1.23 • Knee joint arthrokinematics. A, Standing from squatting; B, Flexing from non-weight-bearing position.
Roll is sometimes referred to as rock or rock-
ing, whereas glide is sometimes referred to as
slide or translation. If accessory motion is pre-
vented from occurring, then physiological motion
cannot occur to any substantial degree other than
by joint compression or distraction. Because most
diarthrodial joints in the body are composed of
a concave surface articulating with a convex sur-
face, roll and glide must occur together to some
degree. For example, as illustrated in Fig.  1.23,
as a person stands from a squatting position, in
order for the knee to extend, the femur must roll
forward and simultaneously slide backward on
the tibia. If not for the slide, the femur would roll
off the front of the tibia, and if not for the roll, the
femur would slide off the back of the tibia.
Spin may occur in isolation or in combination
with roll and glide, depending upon the joint
structure. To some degree, spin occurs at the
knee as it flexes and extends. In the squatting to
standing example, the femur spins medially or
internally rotates as the knee reaches full exten-
sion. Table  1.8 provides examples of accessory
motion.
Roll (rock): A series of points on one articular sur-
face contacts a series of points on another articular
surface.
Glide (slide, translation): A specific point on one
articulating surface comes in contact with a series
of points on another surface.
Spin: A single point on one articular surface rotates
about a single point on another articular surface.
Motion occurs around some stationary longitudinal
mechanical axis in either a clockwise or a counter-
clockwise direction.

TABLE 1.8 • Accessory motion

Accessory motion Anatomical joint example Analogy

Knee extension occurring from femoral
Roll (rocking) condyles rolling forward on tibia as a
person stands from squatting position
Knee extension occurring from femoral
Glide (slide or
condyles sliding backward on tibia as a
translation)
person stands from squatting position
Tire rolling across a road
surface, as in normal driving
with good traction
Tire skidding across a slick
surface with the brakes
locked
Combination of roll and
glide: Tire spinning on
slick ice (i.e., poor trac-
tion) but still resulting
in movement across the
road surface

Radioulnar pronation/supination occur-

Spin ring from spinning of radial head Point of a toy top spinning around in one spot on the floor
against humeral capitulum

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