NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

Which of the following defines the term pronation?

1. Turning the palms of the hands up or anteriorly

2. Turning the palms of the hands down or posteriorly

3. Rotating the foot inward toward the body

4. Positioning the hands in a neutral position

The correct answer is: Turning the palms of the hands down or posteriorly

Pronation is specifically defined as the action of turning the palms of the hands down or posteriorly. This movement is often associated with the rotations of the forearm and wrist. When you pronate, the radius bone in the forearm crosses over the ulna, effectively rotating the hand to face downwards. This is a common motion encountered in various activities, especially in movements like push-ups or when performing exercises that require downward hand positioning. In the context of the other options, the first option involves turning the palms up, which is known as supination, the third option describes rotating the foot inward, which is a concept related to foot movement and biomechanics but does not define pronation itself, and the last option refers to a neutral position of the hands that does not imply any rotational action. Therefore, the definition of pronation is specifically tied to the action of turning the palms downward.