All movement occurs in some combination of the three dimensions. This includes the sagittal plane, frontal plane, and transverse plane.
Movement in the sagittal plane, which involves flexion and extension of the body, is the most common movement that is trained, and tends to be the most familiar in our daily lives. Sagittal plane movements include squatting, walking, climbing stairs, bicep curls, and interacting with objects that are in front of us.
Sagittal Plane
Frontal plane movements relate to lateral, or side to side movements, and may include side stepping, side bending, and lateral arm or leg raises.
Frontal Plane
The transverse plane is the third dimension of movement, and includes rotational movements such as turning the spine from left to right, or rotating the hips or shoulders in or out.
Traverse Plane
Movements in the sagittal plane tend to be overemphasized in people's lives, whereas the latter two planes of movements may be more unfamiliar.
We must be able to move with agility and efficiency in all three dimensions in order to respond to the unpredictable demands of daily life without strain. Limiting movement to only one dimensions can put more stress on particular tissues of the body, which can contribute to pain and pathology, particularly of our joints. For example, walking has the potential to be very beneficial for our whole bodies, but the way we walk can also contribute to excessive strain on certain joints. If we only ever walked on flat, invariable terrain (think concrete or a treadmill), and tend to keep our spines very rigid while we walk, this would limit our movement to primarily the sagittal plane. This may put extra stress on certain regions of our weight-bearing joints, particularly our hips and knees.
If we can vary the way we walk as well as the terrain we walk on, we can move in all three dimensions which will spread the movement over a greater area of our bodies. Imagine adding a little “dance” to your walk by allowing the pelvis to glide from side to side with each step, as well as allowing the arms to swing and the chest to turn. This will allow the body to move more fluidly by including side-bending and rotational movements in our gait. Combine this with regularly walking on different terrains (e.g. inclines/declines, twists and turns, grass, dirt, stones, etc.), and we will stimulate our bodies in constantly varying ways to minimize repetitive strain on isolated areas.
As part of a comprehensive treatment plan, your Wellness Station therapist will ensure your program includes balanced movements in all three dimensions. It is our mission to address the root of issues, rather than treating symptoms, an unfortunate tendency that is often found in more traditional therapeutic approaches. We strive to see the bigger picture, and will help you develop strategies to bring greater balance and ease into all dimensions of life.
Written by Jacob Tyson, DPT - Physical Therapist, Yoga Instructor and The Wellness Station Team