Spinal left rotation occurs around the Y axis in which direction?

Spinal left rotation occurs around the Y axis in the positive direction. In biomechanics, the convention for rotation is defined by the right-hand rule, which states that when the fingers of the right hand curl in the direction of the rotation, the thumb points in the direction of the positive axis. For spinal movements, rotation to the left is considered a positive rotation in this context.

Understanding this involves visualizing the spine as having a three-dimensional coordinate system where the Y axis runs vertically through the body. When the body rotates to the left, it effectively moves in a positive orientation around this vertical axis, which corresponds to an increase in the angle of rotation from the anatomical position while facing forward.

Thus, identifying left rotation as a positive movement aligns with the standard anatomical and biomechanical conventions used in clinical practice. This understanding is crucial in fields like physical therapy and orthopedics, where assessing spinal movement and its impact on function is important for rehabilitation and treatment strategies.