flexibility Flashcards
1
Q
flexibility
A
- ability of a joint, or series of joints to move through a full ROM without injury
2
Q
what is flexibility important for
A
- sports
- occupations
- ADLS
- maintaining ROM during aging
- rehab
- helps to kinda prevent injuries
3
Q
static flexibility
A
- ability to move a joint through the total range of motion and maintain the limits of that range
- safe, low risk of injury
- low energy requirement
- practical to assess
- standardization of protocols, has good standardized outcomes
- valid and reliable
4
Q
dynamic flexibility
A
- ability to move a joint quickly through a ROM and is dependent in the resistance of the joint to the movement
- do not hold the movement
- questionably safe
- higher energy demanding depending on movement type and velocity
- standardization is difficult to control
- more difficult to establish validity and reliability
- more realistic in respect to health and performance
5
Q
factors influencing flexibility
A
- structure of the joint capsule and the interface between the bones (47%)
- difficult to modify a joint structure
- soft tissue around the joints
- contractures
- age
- body type
- ## gender
6
Q
soft tissue and flexibility
A
(muscle , fascia 41%, tendons, ligaments 10%, skin 2%)
- easier to alter soft tissue to change flexibility
7
Q
joint structure and flexibility
A
- difficult to modify a joint structure
- even with lots of flexibility, when the joint is loaded it is hard to be flexible
8
Q
contractures
A
- due to chronic immobilization or shortening of the joint (spasticity) such that soft tissue loses its elasticity and remains permanently shortened
- maladaptation
9
Q
age and flexibility
A
- general flexibility decreases with age
- elasticity of soft tissues decreases and levels of arthritis increase
- difference to body structure disrupts initial 40%
- increase in collagen
10
Q
body type and flexibility
A
- excessive muscle mass and body fat can influence flexibility
- physical constraint for ROM (muscle bound)
- soft tissue approximation
- does not mean body builders and obese individuals are not flexible
11
Q
gender and flexibility
A
- women are more flexible than women at all stages
- anatomical differences
- influences elasticity of soft tissues
- men have greater rom in hip extension/spinal flexion so it is “joint specific”
12
Q
direct measures of static flexibility
A
- equipment used to measure ROM about a joint in degrees
- measure angular displacements between adjacent segments from an external reference
- Leighton flexometer
13
Q
leighton flexometer
A
- has a weighted 360 degree dial and pointer to measure ROM in relation to downward pull of gravity on dial and pointer
- can be strapped onto a variety of standardized positions on limbs
- measures ROM in degrees
- limitations include difficulty to distinguish the difference between hip and trunk ROM
- limited to which body part used
14
Q
goniometer
A
- 360 manual dial to measure degrees
- ROM measured through movement pattern in degrees
- high validity and reliability
- can be influenced by difficulties in locating the joint center and maintaining position
15
Q
inclinometer
A
- gravity dependent device
- hand-held on pre-determined body parts and can measure ROM in degrees
- clinically convenient
- measures entire back ROM
- gives a relative change in degrees
