When a student bends forward to touch his toes, he is performing what type of movement?

When a student bends forward to touch his toes, the movement occurring is known as spinal flexion. This term refers to the action of decreasing the angle between body parts, specifically reducing the angle at the joints along the spine. In this case, as the student bends forward, the vertebrae in the spine come closer together, facilitating the flexion movement.

Spinal flexion is essential for various functional activities such as picking objects off the floor or engaging in a forward fold during Pilates exercises. Understanding this movement is crucial, as it helps instructors guide students safely through exercises that involve bending and to ensure proper alignment and engagement of core muscles during the movement.