Flexibility & Postural Defects
The ability of a joint to move
through its full range of motion
Types of Stretching
Techniques
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Ballistic Stretching: Stretching the muscle
suddenly in a repeated bouncing movement
- elicits Myotatic Reflex (_____________)
Static Stretching: Slowly stretching the
muscle and then holding the stretch position
without bouncing
- elicits Inverse Myotatic Reflex
(_____________________________)
Stretching & Muscle Reflexes
Myotatic Reflex (Stretch Reflex)
 Muscle spindles, specialized sensory
receptors, located among muscle fibers
detect and respond to the _______ and
______________ of stretch on a muscle
- Sends message to spinal cord, which
sends a message back to the muscle to
__________
The Myotatic Reflex
(Stretch Reflex)
Stretching & Muscle Reflexes
Inverse Myotatic Reflex (Stretch Reflex
Inhibition)
 Golgi Tendon Organs, specialized sensory
receptors, located within tendons detect and
respond to _______ caused either by muscle
contraction or by being stretched
- Sends message to spinal cord, which sends
a message back to the muscle to _______
Inverse Myotatic Reflex
(Stretch Reflex Inhibition)
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular
facilitation (PNF)
Incorporates the stretch reflex inhibition
to better facilitate stretching
 Contract-relax-stretch pattern
Developing Flexibility
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Frequency: __ to ___ days/week
Intensity: Stretch to the point of
discomfort, not pain
Duration: Hold stretch position __ to __
seconds. Perform approx. 4 reps of
each stretch
Low Back Pain

Low back pain can result from traumatic
injuries, but is more often the long-term
result of “weak” and “inflexible”
muscles, poor posture, or poor body
mechanics.
Good Posture vs. Lordosis
Lordosis-Excessive anterior
curvature of the lumbar spine
Weak Muscles
 ________________
 ________________
Inflexible Muscles
 ________________
 ________________
Pelvic Roll?
Check for Lordosis
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
Anterior Superior Iliac Spine
Posterior Superior Iliac Spine
Strengthen the Weak Muscles:
Abdominals
Hip Extensors
Crunch
Bridge
Stretch the Inflexible Muscles
Low Back Ext.
Knees-to-Chest
Hip Flexors
Lunge
Kyphosis-Excessive ________
curvature of the thoracic spine
Weak muscles
 _______________
 _______________
Tight Inflexible
muscles
 _______________
Scoliosis- Lateral Curvature of
the Spine
Scoliosis
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80% of scoliosis is idiopathic
Other causes include, congenital spinal
deformities, neuromuscular problems,
leg length discrepancies, cerebral palsy,
spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, etc.
Most common: Adolescent 10-18 yrs
Affects 2% women, .5% men
Scoliosis – Signs & Testing

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Unequal shoulder or
scapula (prominent)
 distance between
arm and side
Uneven waist
______________
(Adam’s Forward
Bend Test)
Check for Scoliosis
Need for Early & Regular
Screening at Home


Degree of curve can progress as much
as ___ to ___ degrees per month.
If degree of curve exceeds 40 degrees
then surgical intervention is usually
required.