Word parts
flex bend-ion action
What it means
A movement such as bending the elbow, the knee or the neck forward. The opposite movement, straightening, is extension. Range-of-motion charts use these words for each joint.
For the nurse
Used in range-of-motion exercises and positioning. In a neuro exam, abnormal flexion of the arms in response to pain (decorticate posturing) is a sign of serious brain injury and is reported.
At a glance
| Spanish | flexión |
|---|
Related terms
range of motion
How far a joint can move in each of its normal directions, and the exercises that move joints through it.
contracture
A lasting shortening and tightening of muscle, tendon, skin or joint tissue that keeps a joint from moving through its full range.