5 Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Chapter

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-2 Flexibility and Low-Back Health  Types of Flexibility  What Determines Flexibility?  Benefits of Flexibility  Assessing Flexibility  Creating a Successful Program to Develop Flexibility  Preventing and Managing Low-Back Pain

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-3 KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS  Flexibility – the ability of a joint to move through its normal, full range of motion – is important for general fitness and wellness

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-4 Types of Flexibility  Range of motion: The full motion possible in a joint  Static flexibility: Ability to hold an extended position at one end or point in a joint’s range of motion  Dynamic flexibility: Ability to move a joint through its range of motion with little resistance

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-5 Joint Structure  Flexibility of a joint depends partly on nature and structure of the joint  Hinge joints  Ball-and-socket joints ▪ Joint capsules: Semielastic structures, composed primarily of connective tissues; surround major joints

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-6 FIGURE 5.1 Basic joint structures

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-7 Muscle Elasticity and Length  Soft tissues: Tissues of the human body that include skin, fat, linings of internal organs and blood vessels, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves  Collagen: White fibers that provide structure and support in connective tissue

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-8 Muscle Elasticity and Length  Elastin: Yellow fibers that make connective tissue flexible  Elastic elongation: Temporary change in the length of muscles, tendons, and supporting connective tissues  Plastic elongation: Long-term change in the length of muscles, tendons, and supporting connective tissues

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 5-9 Nervous System Regulation  Proprioceptor: Nerve that sends information about the muscular and skeletal systems to the nervous system  When they detect changes in position or force of muscles and joints, they send signals to the spine and brain  The brain sends signals back to coordinate muscle action to protect muscles and tendons from injury

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Nervous System Regulation  Proprioceptors control speed, strength, and coordination of muscle contractions  Small movements that only slightly stimulate these receptors cause small reflex actions  Rapid, powerful, and sudden changes in muscle length stimulate receptors and can cause powerful reflex muscle contractions ▪ Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Joint Health  When muscles and other tissues supporting a joint are tight, the joint is subject to stresses that can cause deterioration  Poor joint flexibility can cause abnormalities in joint lubrication, leading to deterioration of the cartilage cells lining the joint

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Prevention of Low-Back Pain and Injuries  Poor spinal stability puts pressure on the nerves leading out from the spinal column and can lead to low-back pain ▪ Good hip and knee flexibility protects the spine ▪ People with either high or low flexibility seem to have an increased risk of injury ▪ Stretching programs are important for older adults and people who play high-power sports, who have brief but intense exertion, and who sit for long periods

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Additional Potential Benefits of Flexibility  Relief of aches and pains  Relief of muscle cramps  Improved body position and strength for sports and life  Maintenance of good posture and balance  Relaxation  Improving impaired mobility

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Assessing Flexibility  There are no tests of general flexibility  The sit-and-reach test rates flexibility of muscles in the lower back and hamstrings

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Applying the FITT Principle  Frequency  ACSM recommends stretching exercises be performed a minimum of two or three days a week  Intensity and time (duration)  Slowly apply stretch to your muscles to point of slight tension or mild discomfort ▪ Hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds ▪ As tension subsides, stretch a bit farther ▪ Rest 30 to 60 seconds; do 2 to 4 repetitions

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education FIGURE 5.2 The FITT principle for a flexibility program

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Creating a Successful Program to Develop Flexibility  Types of stretching techniques  Static stretching: Technique in which a muscle is slowly and gently stretched and then held in the stretched position  Ballistic stretching: Technique in which muscles are stretched by the force generated as a body part is repeatedly bounced, swung, or jerked

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Creating a Successful Program to Develop Flexibility  Types of stretching techniques  Dynamic stretching: Technique in which muscles are stretched by moving joints slowly and fluidly through their range of motion in a controlled manner; also called functional stretching  Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF): Uses reflexes initiated by both muscle and joint nerves to achieve greater training effects

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Creating a Successful Program to Develop Flexibility  Types of Stretching Techniques  Passive stretching: Technique in which muscles are stretched by force applied by an outside source  Active stretching: Technique in which muscles are stretched by the contraction of the opposing muscles

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Flexibility Exercises  Head Turns and Tilts  Towel Stretch  Across-the-Body and Overhead Stretches  Upper-Back Stretch  Lateral Stretch  Step Stretch  Side Lunge  Inner-Thigh Stretch  Hip and Trunk Stretch  Modified Hurdler Stretch (Seated Single-Leg Hamstring)  Leg Stretcher  Lower-Leg Stretch  Single-Leg Deadlift

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Making Progress  Judge progress by noting body position while stretching  Should see some improvement after two to three weeks of stretching  May take two months to attain significant improvements

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Exercises to Improve Flexibility: A Sample Program  Flexibility program should include exercises to work major joints of the body by stretching associated muscle groups  Hold each position 15 to 30 seconds for 2 to 4 repetitions  Use proper technique

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Preventing and Managing Low-Back Pain  Low-back pain afflicts more than 85% of Americans by age 50  Second most common ailment in the U.S.  Often result of weak and inflexible muscles, poor posture, or poor body mechanics when lifting or carrying

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Function and Structure of the Spine  Spine provides structural support for the body  Surrounds and protects the spinal cord  Supports much of the body’s weight  Serves as attachment site for muscles, tendons, and ligaments  Allows movement of the neck and back in all directions

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Function and Structure of the Spine  Spinal column has 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae that form sacrum and coccyx  Vertebrae: Bony segments of the spinal column that provide structural support for the body and protect the spinal cord

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Function and Structure of the Spine  Intervertebral disk: An elastic disk located between adjoining vertebrae consisting of a gel- and water-filled nucleus surrounded by fibrous rings; it serves as a shock absorber for the spinal column  Nerve root: Base of one of the 31 pairs of spinal nerves that branch off the spinal cord through spaces between vertebrae

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education FIGURE 5.3 The spinal column

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education FIGURE 5.4 Vertebrae and an intervertebral disk

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education FIGURE 5.5 Major core muscles

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Core Muscle Fitness  Core muscles: The trunk muscles extending from the hips to the upper back  29 muscles attach to ribs, hips, spine and other bones in the trunk of the body  Core muscles stabilize spine and help transfer force between the upper body and lower body

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Core Muscle Fitness  During any dynamic movement, core muscles work together  Some shorten to cause movement, others contract and hold to provide stability, lengthen to brake movement, or send signals to the brain about the movements and positions of the muscles and bones ▪ Best exercises for low-back health care are whole-body exercises that force core muscles to stabilize the spine in many different directions

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Causes of Back Pain  Lumbar area most common area of pain  Poor muscle endurance and strength in the core muscles  Excess body weight  Poor posture or body position  Poor body mechanics  Physical stress can cause disks to break down and lose some of their ability to absorb shock

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Preventing Low-Back Pain  Maintain healthy weight  Stop smoking and reduce stress  Avoid sitting, standing, or working in the same position for too long  Use a supportive seat and a medium-firm mattress  Use lumbar support when driving  Warm up thoroughly before exercising  Progress gradually when attempting to improve strength or fitness

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Managing Acute Back Pain  Sudden back pain usually involves tissue injury  Applying cold and then heat may reduce pain and inflammation  Bed rest immediately following the onset of pain may help ▪ See physician if acute back pain doesn’t resolve within a short time  Back pain that lasts more than 3 months is considered chronic

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Managing Chronic Back Pain  Different people benefit from different treatment strategies including:  Medications  Exercise  Physical therapy; acupuncture  PENS  Education and advice  Surgery

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Exercises for the Prevention and Management of Low-Back Pain  Perform low-back exercises (3 days per week)  Emphasize muscular endurance  Don’t do full range of motion spine exercises early in morning  Engage in regular endurance exercise  Be patient and stick with your program  Forget the adage ‘no pain, no gain’  Emphasize stabilization exercises