Flex-Ability: Muscle Energy/PNF Basics

Course overview

With the time spent working and using technology, who has time to stretch these days? As people become less active and time marches on, the body tends to stiffen, resulting in reduced flexibility, painful movements and limited functional performance. Reflex-based stretching techniques make it easy to restore mobility and function using muscle energy (MET) /Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Re-education (PNF). This program presents flexibility assessment and application of gentle MET/PNF techniques to facilitate greater range of motion using neuromotor reflexes. Using reciprocal inhibition, post-isometric relaxation and other reflexes can facilitate the stretching process and improve flexibility. Examples of muscle energy stretches are illustrated with guidelines for clinical use to improve functional mobility for everyday activities across the lifespan.