COMPONENT TWO - FLEXIBILITY TRAINING

Flexibility training is a key component for all training programs. The purpose of flexibility training is to:

· Correct Muscle Imbalances
· Increase Joint Range of Motion
· Decrease Muscle Soreness
· Decrease Muscle Hypertonicity
· Relive Joint Stress
· Improve the Extensibility if the Musclulotendinous Junction
· Maintain the Normal Functional Length of All Muscles
· Improve Optimal Neuromuscular Efficiency
· Improve Overall Functional Ability

Today, more than ever, individuals are plagued by the following conditions:

· Muscle imbalances
· Joint dysfunctions
· Postural imbalances

To be truly effective in helping our clients achieve optimal levels of function, we must first develop a plan or strategy to guide us in our programming. This Plan is lies within the Integrated Flexibility Continuum. Within the Integrated Flexibility Continuum there are three divisions of flexibility – Corrective, Active, and Functional – each designed with specific objectives.

CORRECTIVE FLEXIBILITY

This type of flexibility applies appropriate stretching techniques to improve muscle imbalances, postural distortions and altered neural tissue dynamics. Corrective Flexibility utilizes static stretching as well as self-myofacial-release techniques in addition to neuromuscular and neurodynamic stretching.




ACTIVE FLEXIBILITY

This type of flexibility applies three stretching techniques designed to improve soft-tissue extensibility and neuromuscular control by utilizing the principles of reciprocal inhibition and autogenic inhibition. Active flexibility utilizes active isolated techniques, neuromuscular stretching with antagonistic contraction and self-myofacial release with antagonist contraction.

FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY

Functional flexibility applies dynamic stretching techniques to improve soft-tissue extensibility by using the body’s muscles to control the speed, direction and intensity of the stretch