What spinal motion occurs when bending forward?

Bending forward primarily involves flexion of the spine. Flexion is the movement that decreases the angle between two body parts—in this case, between the upper body and the lower body. When you bend forward, you are bringing your torso closer to your thighs, effectively decreasing the angle at the hips and lower back, which is the hallmark of flexion.

In contrast, extension would occur when straightening up from a bent position or leaning backward, while rotation involves twisting the torso around the spine. Elevation refers to moving a body part superiorly, such as raising shoulders. These motions are different from the flexion that takes place when bending forward. Hence, the correct identification of this movement as flexion clearly reflects the mechanics of how the spine operates during that action.