What term describes the motion of bending a joint resulting in decreased joint angle?

The term that describes the motion of bending a joint, which results in a decreased joint angle, is flexion. This movement typically involves bringing two body parts closer together, effectively reducing the angle at the joint. For example, when you bend your elbow or knee, you're performing flexion by reducing the angle between the upper and lower parts of the limb.

Flexion occurs at various joints throughout the body and is a fundamental movement in many physical activities, such as lifting and running. Understanding this term is crucial in the field of sports medicine, as it relates to biomechanics and the mechanics of human movement, allowing for better assessments and interventions relating to injuries or conditions affecting joints.