reciprocal inhibition :: essays research papers

RECIPROCAL INHIBITIONeciprocal inhibitionn a method of behavior therapy based on the inhibition of oneresponse by the occurrence of an other(a) response that ismutually incompatible with it a relaxation responsemight be conditioned to a stimulus that previously evokedanxiety syn reciprocal-inhibition therapyReciprocal Inhibition     The Lengthening Reaction (previous subsection)      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 heft 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 in truth innervate (cause the contraction of) the agonists. Such inhibition of the antagonist ic muscles is not necessarily required. In fact, co-contraction can occur. When you perform a sit-up, one would normally assume that the prevail 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 candid 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 lack to relax any muscles used as synergists by the muscle you are trying to stretch. For example, when you stretch your sura, you want to contract the shin muscles (the antagonists of the calf) by flexing your foot. However, the hamstrings use t he calf as a synergist so you want to also relax the hamstrings by contracting the quadricep (i.e., keeping your leg straight).      Reciprocal inhibitionThis describes muscles on one aspect 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 get word a "misfiring" of motor units and end up simultaneously contracting the quads and hamstrings during a hard sprint.