Pre-class Muscle length/flexibility Flashcards
Full ROM depends on what 2 components?
Joint ROM
Muscle length
What two terms are used synonymously to describe the ability of a muscle to be lengthened to the end of the available ROM?
Muscle Length
Flexibility
How is muscle length measured in the clinic?
Measured indirectly by determining the maximal PROM of the joint(s) crossed by the muscle
What does muscle length/flexibility refer to?
The ability of a muscle crossing at the joint to lengthen, allowing one joint or a series of joints to move through available ROM
In most cases, will joint ROM and muscle length be the same or different when passing over a single joint? Name an exception
Same
Exception: Pec major, which has clavicular or sternal fibers
Which will be greater when a muscle passes over 2 or more joints: total joint ROM or muscle length/elongation? Name an exception
Muscle length/elongation
What is static flexibility? How is it measured?
Defined as the PROM available to a joint or series of joints.
Measured using goniometer or by tests like toe touch, sit and reach.
Decreased static flexibility indicates what?
A loss of motion
What is dynamic flexibility? How is it measured?
The degree to which the force of a muscle contraction can move a joint.
Measured by determining muscle stiffness.
What is stiffness?
A mechanical term defined as the resistance of a structure to deformation
What can increase stiffness?
Strength training and immobilization
What is muscle tightness?
Mild decrease in length of a muscle after sitting for short periods of time or following exercise
What is adaptive shortening?
Loss of flexibility that develops in muscles that are maintained in a shortened position.
What is contracture?
Marked decrease in the length of a muscle leading to a significant loss of ROM
What is required to have a contracture?
A prolonged period of limited joint motion
What factors influence muscle length/flexibility? (8)
- Immobilization
- Weakening of tissue
- Sedentary living/inactivity
- Corticosteroid use
- Gender
- Age
- Injury
- Temperature
How does tissue weakening influence flexibility?
Secondary to collagen turnover and bond weakening, along with adhesion formation and disorganization of new collagen fibers
How does sedentary lifestyle influence flexibility?
Leads to reduction in size and number of collagen fibers
How does corticosteroid use influence flexibility?
Decrease in collagen fiber tensile strength
How does gender influence flexibility?
Female generally more flexible than males
How does age influence flexibility?
Leads to weakening of collagen fibers
What happens as muscle temperature rises? What does this allow for?
Connective tissue becomes more pliable, allowing for more elongation
How much can soft tissue temperature changes increase or decrease flexiblity?
By as much as 20%
What is the optimal temperature for muscle elongation?
102-110 degrees F
Because of the effect of increased temperature, what should be done before stretching?
A warm-up period
In most cases, how is flexibility/muscle length assessed? What other ways can it be assessed?
Passively is most common.
Can be performed actively or as a composite assessment as well (sit and reach)
What are indications for muscle length tests? (2)
Loss of ROM or flexibility
Soft tissue injury, overuse injury or disease
What are contraindications for muscle length tests? (2)
Acute soft tissue or joint injury
Acute neurological trauma
Passive ROM of a joint is influenced by what? (3)
- Muscle length
- Integrity of joint surfaces
- Extensibility of capsule, ligaments, fascia and skin.
True or false. Muscles can be categorized as either one, two, or multi-joint muscles.
False.
Muscles are categorized as either one- joint or mutli-joint muscles.
What defines a one-joint muscle?
Crosses and influences the motion of one joint.
What defines a multi-joint muscle?
Crosses and influences the mostion of two or more joints
What is passive insufficiency?
When the length of an antagonistic muscle is NOT sufficient to allow the agonist to move the joint or joints through full ROM, even with a maximal contraction of the agonist.
What type of testing is used to confirm the lack of excursion (or elongation) of an antagonist? Give an example.
Muscle length testing.
Thomas Test- used to determine if sufficient hip flexor (antagonist) muscle length is present to prevent the assessment of hip extensor (agonist) muscle strength
What is the protocol for assessing muscle length? (5)
- Patient placed in correct position
- PT determines if test should be passive or active
- Muscle being assessed is placed in fully lengthened position (focus on final, elongated position)
- Palpate bony landmarks and measure with gonionmeter
- Motion should not be blocked by support surface or pillow
