Relative Flexibility

"Stiffness in one muscle group or joint will cause compensatory movement at adjoining joints that are controlled by muscles and soft tissues that exhibit less stiffness (1)."   Example: A reduction in hip extension range of motion may result in an increase in lumbar extension during gait.
  1. Shirley A Sahrmann, Diagnoses and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes, © 2002 Mosby Inc.

Related Terms

  • postural dysfunction
  • muscle activation
  • muscle inhibition
  • movement dysfunction

Synonyms

  • compensatory movement
  • muscle imbalance
  • joint stiffness
  • muscle stiffness
  • Relative Flexibility