Training in three planes of motion is the best way to improve your posture, avoid injury and get better results. The body moves in three planes which are sagittal, frontal and transverse.
Any exercise program you do should encourage all three of these planes so you’re moving like you would in everyday life activities. The importance of functional training, as opposed to traditional methods of resistance training, is on the rise. It is very important to keep our ability as we age to function through all three planes of movement, especially as we become more sedentary in our daily lives.
– Sagittal Plane
Dividing the body into left and right halves using an imaginary line gives us the sagittal plane. Any forward and backward movement parallel to this line occurs in the sagittal plane. A walking lunge forward and backwards is a perfect way to work this movement pattern.
– Frontal Plane
Dividing the body into front and back halves and you have the frontal plane. Any lateral (side) movement parallel to the line will occur in the frontal plane. A dumbbell lateral raise is a great way to work this movement pattern.
– Transverse Plane
The transverse plane divides the body into superior and inferior halves. Movement parallel to the waistline, otherwise known as rotational movement, occurs in the transverse plane. A horizontal wood chop is a great way to work this movement pattern.