NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What does external rotation mean in terms of joint movement?

1. A movement around the long axis of a bone toward the body

2. A movement around the long axis of a bone away from the body

3. A bending motion at a joint

4. A straightening motion at a joint

The correct answer is: A movement around the long axis of a bone away from the body

External rotation refers to the movement of a limb or its component part around its long axis in a direction away from the body. This means that when an external rotation occurs at a joint—such as the shoulder or hip—the limb is rotated outward, resulting in an increase in the angle between the limb and the midline of the body. For example, when the arm is lifted at the shoulder and turned outward so that the hand moves away from the body, this is an external rotation. In practical terms, understanding this movement is crucial for trainers and individuals involved in physical training routines, as it impacts various exercise forms and the way we structure mobility and strength training sessions. Movement classifications like flexion, extension, and rotation are foundational in recognizing how joints operate during activity. The other options describe different types of movements, such as bending or straightening a joint, which do not accurately define external rotation. These movements focus on changes in angles at a joint rather than the rotational aspect crucial to the concept of external rotation.