What are the main motions of the lumbosacral joint?

What are the main motions of the lumbosacral joint?

• A. Flexion and extension
• B. Rotation and lateral flexion
• C. Abduction and adduction
• D. Circumduction

Answer: (A)

The main motions at the lumbosacral junction occur in the sagittal plane, so flexion and extension are the primary movements. This junction has facet joints oriented mostly to permit bending forward and backward, and the surrounding ligaments help restrict motion in other directions. As a result, bending the trunk forward (flexion) and returning to neutral or bending backward (extension) dominate. Rotation and lateral flexion can occur but are much more limited due to the facet orientation and strong supporting ligaments, and circumduction isn’t a typical single motion of this joint.

The main motions at the lumbosacral junction occur in the sagittal plane, so flexion and extension are the primary movements. This junction has facet joints oriented mostly to permit bending forward and backward, and the surrounding ligaments help restrict motion in other directions. As a result, bending the trunk forward (flexion) and returning to neutral or bending backward (extension) dominate. Rotation and lateral flexion can occur but are much more limited due to the facet orientation and strong supporting ligaments, and circumduction isn’t a typical single motion of this joint.