Active Soft Tissue Rehabilitation: Postfacilitation Stretch, Somatic Technique, and Postisometric Relaxation

Course overview

Describe the structural and functional changes that occur in fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules following soft tissue injury. Differentiate the three grades of ligament injury and explain the degenerative process of tendinosis in injured tendons. Apply Cyriax passive and active testing methods to differentiate inert from contractile soft tissue lesions. Explain the neurophysiological basis of postfacilitation stretch and identify common postural slow-twitch and phasic fast-twitch muscles. Analyze abnormal hip extension movement patterns and recognize the muscle imbalances found in combined pelvic and shoulder crossed syndromes. Describe observational findings used to identify tight or weak trunk, pelvic, and cervical muscles during postural evaluation. Demonstrate active evaluation procedures for the rectus femoris, hamstrings, TFL, and adductor muscles. Apply postfacilitation stretch principles by evaluating the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, pectoralis major, and suboccipital muscles. Demonstrate postfacilitation stretch protocols for the adductors, piriformis, quadratus lumborum, and erector spinae muscles. Describe the theoretical basis of somatic technique and recognize the red light, green light, and trauma reflex patterns. Apply somatic technique to release chronically tight trunk back extensors and lateral flexor muscles. Demonstrate somatic technique protocols for the lateral hip rotators and the rhomboid and mid trapezius muscles. Explain the principles, evaluation elements, and healing phases addressed by active release technique for soft tissue injury. Describe the characteristics of muscle trigger points and explain the rationale for using postisometric relaxation instead of stretch. Demonstrate postisometric relaxation protocols for the iliopsoas, rectus femoris, and gluteus maximus muscles. Apply postisometric relaxation techniques to the adductor group, piriformis, and hip joint to relieve trigger points. Demonstrate postisometric relaxation procedures for the upper trapezius and scalene muscles of the upper extremity. Apply postisometric relaxation to the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and deltoid muscles of the shoulder. Demonstrate postisometric relaxation techniques for the hand and finger flexors, adductor pollicis, and opponens pollicis. Explain the principles of therapeutic exercise rehabilitation including strength, endurance, torque, and muscle fiber type considerations.