National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

In which plane does a patient perform shoulder internal and external rotation exercises with their arm at their side and elbow in 90 degrees of flexion?

1. Transverse

2. Coronal

3. Sagittal

4. Frontal

The correct answer is: Transverse

The correct response refers to movements occurring in the transverse plane, which is critical for understanding how rotations are classified in relation to body segments. When a patient performs shoulder internal and external rotation with their arm at their side and elbow flexed at 90 degrees, the joint’s axis of rotation is horizontal, allowing these rotational movements to occur in the transverse plane. Internal rotation involves moving the arm toward the body, while external rotation involves moving it away from the body. Both motions are clearly characterized by the rotation occurring around a vertical axis, making the transverse plane the relevant anatomical reference for these actions. Other planes, such as the coronal (which deals with front-to-back movements like abduction and adduction) and sagittal (which involves flexion and extension), do not encompass these rotational activities. The frontal plane, also known as the coronal plane, similarly pertains to sideways movements, not internal or external rotation, reinforcing the uniqueness of the transverse plane for this particular joint motion scenario.