Generic Flexion and Extension Indications

Generic Flexion and Extension Indications
Submitted by Tina Curran, Ann Hutchinson Guest, and Charlotte Wile – January 25, 2005

In Guest, Your Move, 1995 (p. 96) all the signs for "any form of flexion" or "any form of extension" state an amount, as shown here in Ex. 1a-d.

Indications that leave open both the form and degree of the flexion or extension have not been established.

We have experimented with using a vertical ad lib. sign, centered on the symbols, placed where the dots would go if we were using the 6/6 scale. Using this idea, Ex. 2a represents “any degree of any form of flexion,” and 2b represents “any degree of any form of extension.” Unfortunately, when both vertical and ad lib. signs are included, these indications seem cumbersome and too spidery.

The symbols look better if the vertical ad lib. sign is drawn small. Our first thought was to place the small sign in the top end of the flexion or extension sign, as in Ex. 3a and 3b. However, in some cases this might be confusing when a duration line is added. For instance, unless the symbols are drawn very carefully, the indication for any degree of flexion with an extended duration (Ex. 3c) might be mistaken for a quick, small flexion followed by a separate action (Ex. 3d).

This problem is solved if the small ad lib. sign is placed in the bottom end of the flexion or extension sign (Ex. 3e and 3f). Then, it would be clear, for instance, that Ex. 3g indicates a flexion (any degree), and Ex. 3h indicates a flexion (any degree) followed by a separate action.

Accordingly, our preferred method for indicating variations of “any form of flexion” or “any form of extension” is as follows: