Flexibility in soccer, a more technical
lookAnatomical limitations
bony structures (example: elbow/knee)
soft tissue structures
- muscles
- connective tissues
- joint capsule
- ligaments
- tendons
- skin
- adipose tissue (fat)
Physiological basis
a. Stretch (myotic) reflex
The myotic reflex is a direct result of stimulation of the
muscle spindle, which sends information to the central nervous
system concerning the degree of stretch upon the involved
muscle and the exact number of motor units needed to contract
in order to overcome stretch.
When a muscle is ballistically stretched, it responds with a
contraction whose amount and rate vary directly with those of
the causative stretch.
When a muscle is statically stretched, this reflex is
inhibited.
This inhibition is initiated by the Golgi Tendon Organ, as a
protective mechanism to avoid injury.
b. Reciprocal inhibition
This is a neuromuscular function that inhibits (relaxes) one
set of muscles when the antagonist (opposing muscles) are
contracting (proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation--P.N.F--is based on this function).
When this mechanism dysfunctions, with both agonists and
antagonists contracting simultaneously a muscle strain (torn
fibres and spasm) results.
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