Flexibility in Sports Medicine

Practice flashcards covering essential terms and concepts related to flexibility as presented in the lecture.

Flexibility

The functional capacity of the joints to move through a full range of motion (ROM).

Range of Motion (ROM)

The amount of available motion, or arc of motion, that occurs at a specific joint.

Gold standard

A laboratory assessment of the ROM of a specific joint used as a benchmark for flexibility.

Bilateral strength imbalances

Differences in strength between the left and right sides of the body, which can lead to injuries.

Passive motion

Motion achieved by an examiner without the assistance of the client.

Active motion

Motion achieved by the client without assistance from the examiner.

Goniometer

A device used to measure the angle of range of motion in joints.

Flexibility assessment

A process to provide a baseline for fitness program progress and identify potential injury risks.

Specificity (in flexibility testing)

The principle that flexibility is individualized for a given joint.

Factors influencing flexibility

Age, gender, previous joint injury, and specific diseases can all affect a person's flexibility.

Chondromalacia

A joint disease affecting the cartilage, which can influence range of motion.

Lumbar flexion test

Assesses lumbar flexion using a tape measure from the spinous process to the posterior superior iliac spine.

Finger to Floor Method

A test measuring the distance from the participant’s fingers to the floor while bending forward.

Functional capacity

The ability of joints to move through a full range of motion needed for daily activities.

Learning effect in flexibility measurements

The phenomenon where performance may improve with repeated attempts due to familiarity with the test.

American Medical Association recommendations

Guidelines for measuring ROM including averaging multiple trials for accuracy.