Intro (Flexibility, ROM, Muscle Action, Measurements) Flashcards
(83 cards)
What is flexibility?
Ability to move a joint through its complete, pain-free ROM
- Smoothly & easily in an unrestricted manner
Why is flexibility important?
- Athletic performance
- Ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADL)
- Facilitates movement & prevent injury
What happens when an activity moves structures of a joint beyond its full ROM?
Tissue damage can occur
What is dynamic flexibility?
Extent to which an active muscle contraction can effect a full available ROM
- Degree & quality of tissue extensibility not the only factor –> Muscle’s ability to contract through full ROM (contractile elements
AKA active mobility/active ROM
What is passive flexibility?
Extent to which a joint can be passively moved through full ROM
- Depends on extensibility of soft tissues about the joint
AKA passive mobility/passive ROM
What is ROM (Range of Movement)?
Full movement of a segment (e.g. arm, forearm, thigh, leg) within the unrestricted range
- Can be described as joint ROM (joint range), muscle flexibility (muscle length), peripheral nerve mobility, etc
What is affected when moving a segment through its ROM?
All structures in the region are affected:
- muscles
- joint surfaces
- synovial fluid
- joint capsules
- ligaments
- fasciae
- vessels
- nerves (can be stretched)
How is ROM usually measured?
- Primarily measured in terms of joint angular movement/muscle flexibility
- Can also be measured by neural tension tests
What is functional ROM?
Range of joint movements that allow functional activities = e.g. 100 degrees of elbow flexion for drinking
What is used to describe joint range? What is it measured using?
Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation
Measured using goniometer & in degrees
What is muscle range?
Functional excursion of muscles = distance the muscle can shorten after maximum elongation
- Sometimes can be influenced by the joint it crosses
What is mobility?
Ability of body structures/segments to move to allow/effect functional ROM
- Indicates joint integrity AND soft tissue flexibility
What is hypomobility caused by?
Adaptive shortening/decreased extensibility in soft tissues
- can contribute to activity limitations & participation restrictions
AKA muscle tightness
What is hypomobility?
General term to describe dec. mobility or restricted motion at a joint/series of joints
What are some contributing factors of hypomobility?
- Prolonged immobilization (extrinsic/intrinsic factors)
- Sedentary lifestyles & habitual/asymmetrical postures
- Postural malalignment with muscle length alterations
- Impaired muscle performance (weakness) assoc. with MSK or neuro disorders
- Congenital/acquired deformities
- Age-related dec. in tissue extensibility
Examples of prolonged immobilization contributing to hypomobility
Casts/orthotics/traction = fractures, osteotomy, soft tissue trauma/repair
Pain, joint inflammation & effusion, MSK disorders, skin disorders, bony blocks, vascular disorders = micro/macrotrauma, degenerative/joing dz, myositis, tendonitis, burns, skin grafts, osteophytes, etc
Examples of sedentary lifestyle/habitual faulty/asymmetrical postures contributing to hypomobility
Confinement to bed/wc
Prolonged positioning assoc. with occupation/work env.
Examples of paralysis, tonal abnormalities, muscle imbalances contributing to hypomobility
Neuromuscular disorders & dz
CNS/PNS dysfunction (spasticity, rigidity, flaccidity, weakness, muscle guarding, spasm)
Examples of postural malalignment/congenital/acquired contributing to hypomobility
Scoliosis, kyphosis
What is tightness?
General term to describe adaptive shortening of muscles
- includes both contractile & noncontractile tissues
What is contracture?
Adaptive shortening of muscle-tendon unit & other soft tissues crossing/surrounding a joint + significant resistance to passive/active mobility & limited ROM
Named after direction of muscle tightness
Contracture vs Shortness vs Tightness/hypomobility
Contracture = most often defined by an almost complete loss of motion
Shortness = used to denote partial loss of motion
Tightness/hypomobility = used to describe restricted motion due to mild adaptive shortening of soft tissue (mild muscle shortening)
What does adaptive process in contracture involve?
Loss of elastin = result in loss of elasticity = compromise functional ROM
When does contracture develop?
When tissues lose elasticity secondary to prolonged joint positioning
- assoc. w neuro conditions/significant trauma to joint/soft tissues (e.g. burns, major joint dislocation)