Meaning & use

circumduction

noun·Advanced

A circular movement of a limb or joint, such as the shoulder or hip, tracing a cone-like path.

See it in a sentence

The physical therapist asked him to perform gentle circumduction of the injured shoulder.

Circumduction of the hip combines flexion, extension, and rotation into one smooth motion.

A note on using this word

Circumduction is a specific anatomical term used in physical therapy and kinesiology rather than everyday speech.

Words with a similar meaning

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