RECIPROCAL INHIBITIONeciprocal inhibition n: a method of behavior therapy based on the inhibition of one response by the occurrence of another response that is mutually incompatible with it; a relaxation response might be conditioned to a stimulus that previously evoked anxiety [syn: reciprocal-inhibition therapy]Reciprocal Inhibition^aEURc The Lengthening Reaction: (previous subsection) ^aEURc What Happens When You Stretch: (beginning of section) When an agonist contracts, in order to cause the desired motion, it usually forces the antagonists to relax (see section Cooperating Muscle Groups).
This phenomenon is called reciprocal inhibition because the antagonists are inhibited from contracting. This is sometimes called reciprocal innervation but that term is really a misnomer since it is the agonists which inhibit (relax) the antagonists. The antagonists do not actually innervate (cause the contraction of) the agonists. Such inhibition of the antagonistic muscles is not necessarily required.
In fact, co-contraction can occur. When you perform a sit-up, one would normally assume that the stomach muscles inhibit the contraction of the muscles in the lumbar, or lower, region of the back. In this particular instance however, the back muscles (spinal erectors) also contract. This is one reason why sit-ups are good for strengthening the back as well as the stomach. When stretching, it is easier to stretch a muscle that is relaxed than to stretch a muscle that is contracting. By taking advantage of the situations when reciprocal inhibition does occur, you can get a more effective stretch by inducing the antagonists to relax during the stretch due to the contraction of the agonists.
The Essay on Isokinetic Eccentric And Concentric Muscle Contractions
Isokinetic, Eccentric, and Concentric Muscle Contractions There are three basic types of muscle contraction: isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic. An isometric contraction occurs when a muscle contracts, producing force without changing the length of muscle. To demonstrate this action, in the sitting position place your right hand under your thigh and place your left hand on your right biceps ...
You also want to relax any muscles used as synergists by the muscle you are trying to stretch. For example, when you stretch your calf, you want to contract the shin muscles (the antagonists of the calf) by flexing your foot. However, the hamstrings use the calf as a synergist so you want to also relax the hamstrings by contracting the quadriceps (i. e. , keeping your leg straight).
Reciprocal inhibition This describes muscles on one side of a joint relaxing to accommodate contraction on the other side of that joint.
The body handles this pretty well during activities like running, where muscles that oppose each other are engaged and disengaged sequentially to produce coordinated movement. This facilitates ease of movement and is a safeguard against injury. Sometimes, for example, a football running back can experience a ‘misfiring’ of motor units and end up simultaneously contracting the quads and hamstrings during a hard sprint. If these muscles, which act opposite to each other are fired at the same time, at a high intensity, a tear can result. The stronger muscle, usually the quadriceps in this case, overpowers the hamstrings.
This sometimes results in an injury known as a pulled hamstring. To get an idea of reciprocal inhibition in action, hold a heavy book in one hand, palm up. With your other hand feel the front of your upper arm. It’s contracted and hard. Then, feel the back of your upper arm. It’s relaxed, and flaccid.
Include this as a flexibility technique to improve your active and PDF stretching. Subject: 1. 6. 4 – Reciprocal Inhibition When an agonist contracts, in order to cause the desired motion, it usually forces the antagonists to relax (See ‘1.
4 – Cooperating Muscle Groups’).
This phenomenon is called ‘reciprocal inhibition’ because the antagonists are inhibited from contracting. This is sometimes called ‘reciprocal innervation’ but that term is really a misnomer since it is the agonists which inhibit (relax) the antagonists. The antagonists do not actually innervate (cause the contraction of) the agonists. Such inhibition of the antagonistic muscles is not necessarily required. In fact, co-contraction can occur.
The Term Paper on Types of Muscles
Activity 1 The Muscle Twitch and the Latent Period 1. 1.Define the terms skeletal muscle fiber, motor unit, skeletal muscle twitch, electrical stimulus, and latent period 2.What .is the role of acetylcholine in a skeletal muscle contraction? Skeletal muscle fiber-Skeletal muscle fibers are the individual cells that are bound together in fascicles. Many fascicles are bound together to make a muscle ...
When you perform a sit-up, one would normally assume that the stomach muscles inhibit the contraction of the muscles in the lumbar, or lower, region of the back. In this particular instance however, the back muscles (spinal erectors) also contract. This is one reason why sit-ups are good for strengthening the back as well as the stomach. When stretching, it is easier to stretch a muscle that is relaxed than to stretch a muscle that is contracting. By taking advantage of the situations when reciprocal inhibition does occur, you can get a more effective stretch by inducing the antagonists to relax during the stretch due to the contraction of the agonists. You also want to relax any muscles used as synergists by the muscle you are trying to stretch.
For example, when you stretch your calf, you want to contract the shin muscles (the antagonists of the calf) by flexing your foot. However, the hamstrings use the calf as a synergist so you want to also relax the hamstrings by contracting the quadriceps (i. e. , keeping your leg straight).
