Abduction and adduction

"Abduction" and "adduction" are terms used to describe the movement of body parts. In "abduction," the body part moves away from the body or the midline. In "adduction," the opposite occurs: the body part moves toward the body or the midline.

Examples from the body

• Shoulder: When you move your arm sideways and upwards, you perform an abduction. If you bring the arm back towards your body, that is an adduction.
• Wrist: If you spread your fingers, that is abduction. Bringing them back together is adduction.

Not every joint can perform these movements. For example, hinge joints, such as the knee and elbow, can only bend, rotate and straighten and cannot perform abduction or adduction.

These terms are mainly used by (para-)medical professionals, such as doctors and physiotherapists, to communicate more accurately about the mobility of a body part. As a patient, you do not have to be familiar with these terms, but they can help you better understand a medical report.