Which movement is NOT considered a physiological movement?

• A. Flexion
• B. Extension
• C. Glide
• D. Abduction

Answer: (C)

The movement that is not considered a physiological movement is glide. Physiological movements are those that occur at the joints as a result of muscle contraction and involve movements in a specific plane of motion. These include flexion, extension, and abduction, as they are actively performed by muscles to alter the position of the limbs and other body parts.

Flexion refers to the decrease in the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow. Extension is the opposite, involving an increase in the angle, like straightening the elbow. Abduction involves moving a limb away from the body’s midline, demonstrating a clear and active muscle action in a particular direction.

In contrast, gliding is a non-physiological movement, primarily seen in certain joints where one surface glides over another, like the small movements of the carpals in the wrist. This type of movement does not involve a single direction resulting from muscle contraction but is rather a passive or accessory motion that typically accompanies physiological movements. Thus, glide is distinct and not categorized alongside flexion, extension, and abduction, which are all essential, dynamic movements generated by muscular activity.