The body it divided into three planes in which movements are performed. These planes consist of the sagittal plane, frontal plane, and transverse plane.
1. The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves and 80% of movements in the gym are performed in the sagittal plane. Exercises in the sagittal plane include bicep curls, squats, walking lunges, crunches, shoulder press, triceps extension, shoulder flexion/front raise, etc.
2. The frontal plane divides the body into front and back halves and is associated with adduction and abduction. However, there are not as many exercises that are performed in this plane. Exercises in the frontal plane consist of lateral lunges, hip abduction, hip adduction, and lateral shoulder raises….I think that’s all of them.
3. The transverse plane (my favorite) divides the body into top and bottom halves. Anytime you are rotating/twisting your body, you are performing movements in the transverse plane. Exercises performed in the transverse plane include cable chops, Russian twist, crossover crunch, transverse lunge, and any other movement that involves rotation.
The next time you exercise, it would be a good idea to incorporate more lateral movements in the frontal plane, as well as more rotational movements in the transverse plane. If you play a sport, it is crucial to focus on movements in the frontal and transverse planes. Even in everyday life, you are performing movements in all three planes and training movements rather than body parts will allow you to improve the way you move on and off the field. If you want to look like an athlete, you must train like an athlete so challenge the body in multiple planes!
