Planes of Movement

When analysing movement in sport, we need a way to describe the direction of movement. Planes of movement are imaginary flat surfaces that divide the body and describe the direction in which a movement occurs. For AQA GCSE PE (spec 3.1.2), you need to know the three planes, be able to define each one, and link them to specific sporting examples.

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What Is a Plane of Movement?

A plane is an imaginary flat surface that passes through the body. It divides the body into two halves and describes the direction of movement at a joint. Think of it as an invisible sheet of glass that the body moves along.

There are three planes of movement:

Plane	Direction of Division	Type of Movement
Sagittal (also called median)	Divides body into left and right halves	Forward and backward movements
Frontal (also called coronal)	Divides body into front and back halves	Side-to-side movements
Transverse (also called horizontal)	Divides body into top and bottom halves	Rotational (twisting) movements

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The Sagittal Plane

The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves. Movements in this plane go forwards and backwards (or up and down in the same forward-backward direction).

graph TD
    A[Sagittal Plane] --> B[Divides body into<br>LEFT and RIGHT]
    B --> C[Movements go<br>FORWARD and BACKWARD]
    C --> D[Flexion and Extension]
    D --> E[Examples:<br>Running<br>Squatting<br>Bicep curl<br>Somersault<br>Kicking a ball]
    style A fill:#4a90d9,color:#fff
    style C fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style E fill:#f39c12,color:#fff

Key Actions in the Sagittal Plane

Joint Action	Description	Sporting Example
Flexion	Decreasing the angle at a joint	Bending the knee when squatting
Extension	Increasing the angle at a joint	Straightening the leg when kicking
Dorsiflexion	Pulling the toes up towards the shin	Pulling the foot back to trap a football
Plantarflexion	Pointing the toes downward	Pushing off the ground when sprinting

Sporting Examples in the Sagittal Plane

Sport/Activity	Action	Why Sagittal?
Running	Leg swings forward and back	Limbs move in a forward-backward direction
Squatting	Bending and straightening knees	Movement is forward-backward (flexion/extension)
Bicep curl	Forearm moves up towards shoulder	Movement is in the forward-backward plane
Front somersault	Body rotates forward	The body rotates through the sagittal plane
Football kick	Leg swings forward to strike the ball	The kicking leg moves forward in the sagittal plane
Long jump	Run-up and jump forward	Movement is predominantly forward

Exam Tip: The sagittal plane is the easiest to remember because it involves the most common movements — walking, running, squatting, jumping. If the movement goes forward or backward, it is in the sagittal plane.

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The Frontal Plane

The frontal plane (also called the coronal plane) divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) halves. Movements in this plane go side to side.

graph TD
    A[Frontal Plane] --> B[Divides body into<br>FRONT and BACK]
    B --> C[Movements go<br>SIDE TO SIDE]
    C --> D[Abduction and Adduction]
    D --> E[Examples:<br>Star jumps<br>Cartwheel<br>Lateral raise<br>Goalkeeper dive<br>Side step in netball]
    style A fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff
    style C fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style E fill:#f39c12,color:#fff

Key Actions in the Frontal Plane

Joint Action	Description	Sporting Example
Abduction	Moving a limb away from the midline of the body	Raising your arm out to the side
Adduction	Moving a limb towards the midline of the body	Bringing your arm back to your side
Lateral flexion	Bending the spine to the side	Leaning sideways to avoid a tackle

Sporting Examples in the Frontal Plane

Sport/Activity	Action	Why Frontal?
Star jumps (jumping jacks)	Arms and legs move out to the sides and back	Limbs move side-to-side (abduction/adduction)
Cartwheel	Body moves sideways over the hands	The whole body moves in a side-to-side direction
Lateral raise (gym)	Lifting dumbbells out to the side	Arms move away from the midline (abduction)
Goalkeeper diving	Diving to the side to save a shot	Body moves laterally
Netball side step	Stepping sideways to dodge a defender	Movement is side-to-side
Swimming (breaststroke legs)	Legs kick out to the side	Abduction of the legs in the frontal plane