International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Corrective Exercise Practice Test

Hip abduction and adduction primarily occur in the frontal plane, also known as the coronal plane. This plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections. Movements in this plane involve the limbs moving away from or towards the midline of the body.

Hip abduction refers to the movement of the leg away from the midline, while hip adduction involves moving the leg toward the midline. Activities such as side leg raises or bringing the legs together clearly demonstrate these movements in the frontal plane.

In contrast, the sagittal plane divides the body into right and left parts and is associated with movements such as flexion and extension. The transverse plane divides the body into upper and lower parts and is involved with rotational movements. The oblique plane is less commonly referenced in standard anatomical terms, as it involves diagonal movements that combine elements of the other planes.

Thus, understanding that hip abduction and adduction occur in the frontal plane is crucial for recognizing movement patterns and for designing effective corrective exercise programs.