Flexibility

flexibility

the capacity to move joints freely through normal range of motion

the ability of the musculotendinous unit to elongate when force is applied

skeletal muscle

this muscle is extensible, elastic, and adaptable

2

how many joints does flexibility cross?

stretching

how does one target flexibility?

range of motion

amount of physiologic mobility about a joint

determined by soft tissue and joint shape

stretching, needling, passive assessments

how do we target range of motion?

musculotendinous tissue

muscle:

- muscle fiber/fibril

- fascicle

tendon:

- connects bone to muscle

- MTJ

connective tissue:

- epimysium

- perimysium

- endomysium

- fascia is continuous and has same layers that circle layers within tendon

muscle fiber/fibril and fasicle

what are the muscles in the musculotendinous?

bone to tissue and MTJ

what do the tendons do in the musculotendinous?

muscle tissue

what is the connective tissue bundles in the musculotendinous?

epimysium, perimysium, endomysium, and fascia

what are the connective tissues in musculotendinous?

considered "normal" range of motion

what are these considered?

- compare it bilaterally

- comapre it population norms

- identify activity based limitations

- clinical experience

benefits of stretching

- ensure efficient movement patterns

- target muscle extensibility balance

- limited evidence for preventing musculotendinous injuries

- align muscle fibers during healing following injury

strains

what kind of injuries are musculotendinous injuries?

factors affecting flexibility

- sex

- age

- genetic predisposition

- tissue temperature

- previous injury

- disease state

males

who has less flexibility generally, males or females?

genetic predisposition

affects cognital hypermobility

decrease

does flexibility increase or decrease with age?

increase

high tissue temperatures increase or decrease elasticity?