Physiology of Flexibility & Stretching
Anatomy & Physiology
Overview
In this lesson, we explore the relatively complex perspectives related to the anatomy and physiology of flexibility and stretching.
Objective
Understand what limits flexibility (including connective tissue and the nervous system) and gain a deeper understanding of stretching.
What You'll Get
Define flexibility and factors that may limit flexibility. Explain what happens to a person’s muscles when anesthetized and the significance of this. Describe what happens when personal ROM limits are reached. Define three possible muscles states. Explain what is meant by “a tensile load” and provide the benefits of stretching. Define and give an example of the following types of stretching: passive / passive static, active / active static, dynamic, resistance and PNF.
Vocabulary
active stretching, dynamic stretching, facilitated stretching, flexibility, passive stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscluar facilitation (PNF), resistance stretching, static stretching, stretching, tensile load
- ACTIVE STRETCHING — Contracting the muscle in opposition to the targeted stretching muscle
- DYNAMIC STRETCHING — Stretch done with movement
- FACILITATED STRETCHING — Another name for Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
- FLEXIBILITY — The ability to move (without pain or restriction) through a joint’s range of motion
- PASSIVE STRETCHING — Many non-yoga sources define it as using an outside force such as a partner; most yoga sources likely mean what Ray Long calls Passive Static Stretching, defined as relaxing into the stretch such as in a Restorative Pose
- PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITATION (PNF) — A muscle group is passively stretched, then contracts isometrically against resistance while in the stretched position, and is then passively stretched again
- RESISTANCE STRETCHING — Stretch is done with contraction while lengthening (eccentric contraction)
- STATIC STRETCHING — Stretch is performed with no outside force and no movement, and is held for some period of time
- STRETCHING — Affects the nervous system in a way that relaxes muscle fibers (Many other definitions included in lesson)
TENSILELOAD / TENSILE STRENGTH — One of many ways that stretching is defined; refers to the greatest pulling force that a material can withstand without breaking; “tensile” refers to pulling apart in contrast to “compressive” which refers to pushing together
What Is Flexibility & What Limits It?
What Is Flexibility?
- Flexibility refers to the ability to move (without pain or restriction) through a joint’s range of motion.
- It is not something general but specific to a particular joint or set of joints. (MIT)
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