In the “anatomical sense” abduction (or you may hear it described as A-B-duction) is when a body part, most commonly an arm or leg, is moved away from the midline of the body.
Familiar motions like raising your arms and legs apart and away from your body when doing jumping jacks is considered abduction of the limbs. The term applies to the movement and may apply to more than one body part at a time.
If your care recipient is participating with a physical therapist, you may have heard this term used in passing but may not have understood what it meant. A therapist may use the term if a care recipient has a stiff shoulder from an injury or surgery. Another time it’s used is when a care recipient has been instructed to perform side leg lifts while in standing as this is a very common home exercise and is helpful to building strength and stability when a person is in stance.
You may also hear therapists or medical professionals speaking of various muscles as being abductors. This is a simple reference for the muscles that move a body part away from the midline of the body or midline of a body part such as the hands or feet ( as fingers and toes can be abducted).
Abduction is the opposite of Adduction.