Foundational Concepts: The Muscle Action Spectrum

Question 1

concentric

Answer 1

moving in the opposite direction of force, accelerates or produces force; muscle shortens.

Question 2

eccentric

Answer 2

muscle develops tension while lengthening; decelerates force.

Question 3

isometric

Answer 3

muscular force equal to resistive force, stabilizes force; no change in muscle length.

Question 4

length-tension relationship

Answer 4

resting length of a muscle and the tension it can produce at that length

Question 5

force-couple

Answer 5

muscles working together to produce movement

Question 6

force-velocity curve

Answer 6

as the velocity of a contraction increases, concentric force decreases and eccentric force increases.

Question 7

neuromuscular efficiency

Answer 7

ability to produce and reduce force, and stabilize the kinetic chain in all three planes of motion

Question 8

structural efficiency

Answer 8

alignment of the musculoskeletal system that allows center of gravity to be maintained over a base of support.

Question 9

Davis’s law

Answer 9

soft tissue models along the lines of stress

Question 10

autogenic inhibition

Answer 10

neural impulses that sense tension are greater that the impulses that cause muscles to contract; provides inhibitory effect to muscle spindles

Question 11

reciprocal inhibition

Answer 11

simultaneous contraction of one muscle, and relaxation of its antagonist to allow movement

Question 12

relative flexibility

Answer 12

tendency of the body to seek the path of least resistance.

Question 13

pattern overload

Answer 13

consistently repeating the same motion; places abnormal stresses on the body

Question 14

postural distortion patterns

Answer 14

predictable patterns of muscle imbalances

Question 15

altered reciprocal inhibition

Answer 15

muscle inhibition caused by a tight agonist, which inhibits its functional antagonist

Question 16

synergistic dominance

Answer 16

inappropriate muscle takes over function of a weak or inhibited prime mover

Question 17

muscle imbalance

Answer 17

alteration of muscle length surrounding a joint

Question 18

cumulative injury cycle

Answer 18

tissue trauma
inflammation
muscle spasm
adhesions
altered neuromuscular control
muscle imbalance