National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Group Fitness Instructor Practice Exam

Which of the following is a movement in the transverse plane?

1. Arm abduction

2. Knee flexion

3. Forearm pronation

4. Hip extension

The correct answer is: Forearm pronation

The choice of forearm pronation as a movement in the transverse plane is accurate because the transverse plane divides the body into upper and lower halves and is associated with rotational movements. Pronation of the forearm entails rotating the radius over the ulna, allowing the palm of the hand to face downward or backward. This rotational movement occurs around a vertical axis, effectively characterizing it as a transverse plane movement. In contrast, the other options represent movements primarily found in different planes. Arm abduction occurs in the frontal plane, where the arms move away from the body’s midline. Knee flexion takes place in the sagittal plane, involving bending the knee to decrease the angle between the upper leg and lower leg. Similarly, hip extension is also a movement in the sagittal plane, which involves moving the thigh behind the body. Each of these options emphasizes linear or lateral movements, distinct from the rotational nature of forearm pronation in the transverse plane.