Hamstrings Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is pandiculation?
Pandiculation is the act of stretching and contracting muscles simultaneously, often seen in yawning.
True or False: Pandiculation is more effective than traditional stretching for lengthening hamstrings.
True
Fill in the blank: Pandiculation helps to reset the ______ of the muscles.
neuromuscular system
What is one primary benefit of using pandiculation over stretching?
Pandiculation promotes better neuromuscular control and awareness.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of pandiculation? A) Simultaneous contraction and relaxation B) Passive stretching C) Increased body awareness
B) Passive stretching
What does pandiculation encourage in the muscle fibers?
It encourages optimal length and function.
True or False: Stretching can cause a temporary increase in flexibility but may not address underlying muscle tension.
True
What is a key difference between stretching and pandiculation?
Stretching typically involves elongating muscles without contraction, while pandiculation involves both stretching and contracting.
Fill in the blank: Pandiculation can help reduce ______ in the hamstrings.
tension
Why is pandiculation considered a more holistic approach to muscle lengthening?
Because it integrates awareness, control, and muscle function rather than just focusing on lengthening.
What is the stretch reflex also known as?
myotatic reflex
The stretch reflex helps maintain muscle length and tone, and protects muscles from overstretching.
What type of reflex is the stretch reflex?
monosynaptic spinal reflex
It involves just one synapse between sensory and motor neurons in the spinal cord.
What are the specialized sensory receptors within skeletal muscles called?
muscle spindles
Muscle spindles are sensitive to changes in muscle length and the rate of change in length.
What type of neurons are activated when a muscle is rapidly stretched?
type Ia afferent neurons
These neurons are highly sensitive to both the magnitude and speed of stretch.
Where do Ia afferent fibers enter in the spinal cord?
dorsal horn
They synapse directly onto alpha motor neurons in the ventral horn.
What do alpha motor neurons do in the stretch reflex?
send an excitatory signal back to the extrafusal muscle fibers
This causes the muscle to contract reflexively.
What is the purpose of reciprocal inhibition in the stretch reflex?
to allow the antagonist muscle to relax
This prevents it from resisting the reflex contraction.
What is one of the main purposes of the stretch reflex?
maintain posture and muscle tone
It helps muscles adjust to maintain equilibrium and support against gravity.
How does the stretch reflex help prevent muscle injury?
by rapidly contracting a muscle in response to unexpected or excessive stretch
This protects muscle fibers and tendons from tearing.
Why is stretching cold muscles risky?
muscle spindles may be more sensitive to sudden changes in length
A quick stretch can trigger the stretch reflex, leading to involuntary contraction.
What happens to warm muscles compared to cold muscles?
warm muscles are more pliable and less reactive to stretch-induced spindle activation
This reduces the risk of injury during stretching.
What is pandiculation?
a voluntary contraction of a muscle followed by a slow, controlled release
It engages both muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs.
How does pandiculation differ from the stretch reflex?
it works with the neuromuscular system rather than against it
This avoids sudden stretch responses.
