Updated September 15, 2015.

There are lots of ways to describe exercises - Some are done in a certain plane of motion, for example when you do a lateral raise, that movement is in the frontal plane.  Fascinating, I know, but there are other ways to describe an exercise is by naming it's actual movement.

Why You Should Care

A lot of us do exercises without thinking much about them.  After all, someone else was smart enough to figure them out, they must work, right?


  However, knowing the movements of your exercises not only makes you look smarter, it gives you more insight into your workouts.  You're able to make sure you're taking your body through every motion so it's strong and fit no matter which way you're moving around every day.  And that is the very essence of functional training.

What is Adduction

Adduction is one of those movements your body does all day long and it describes the lateral movement of a limb towards the middle of the body.  Some of the exercises that involve adduction include:

• The lowering phase of a lateral raise
• Inner thigh leg lift
• Lat pulldown
• Inner thigh squeeze
• Squat with an inner thigh lift