Which movement occurs when the soles of the feet are positioned away from each other?

The movement that occurs when the soles of the feet are positioned away from each other is eversion. Eversion involves the turning of the foot outward, which causes the bottom (or soles) of the feet to point away from the midline of the body. This movement typically occurs at the subtalar joint and plays an essential role in activities that require balance and agility, as it allows for more diverse foot placement and stability on uneven surfaces.

In contrast, other movements do not describe this outward placing of the soles. Inversion refers to the opposite movement, where the soles are turned inward toward the midline. Plantar flexion is the action of pointing the toes downwards, which does not involve the position of the soles relative to each other but rather the position of the foot. Radial flexion describes the motion of bending the wrist towards the thumb side, which is unrelated to foot movements. Therefore, the identification of eversion as the correct answer is aligned with the anatomical definition and understanding of foot positioning.