Bilateral hypertonicity of the rectus femoris will cause the pelvis to adopt an anterior tilt, resulting in lower back pain due to the fifth lumbar vertebra facet joints being forced into a lordotic position.

It is known that 60–70% of the walking or running cycle is spent on the stance phase, which is restricted to one leg at a time (with 30–40% being spent on the swing phase). If you recall the lateral sling discussion in earlier chapters, we know that the stance phase incorporates the abductors, adductors on the ipsilateral leg, and the QL on the con

Sherrington’s law of reciprocal inhibition (Sherrington 1907) states that a hypertonic antagonist muscle may be reflexively inhibiting its agonist. Therefore, in the presence of short and subsequently tight antagonistic muscles, we must first look at restoring normal muscle tone and/or length before attempting to strengthen a weakened or inhibited

As we progress from the mid-stance phase to heel-lift and propulsion, the foot begins to re-supinate and passes through a neutral position when the propulsive phase begins; the foot continues in supination through toe-off. As a result of the foot supinating during the mid-stance propulsive period, the foot is converted from a “mobile adaptor” (whic

We have already looked at how the relative shortness of the iliopsoas, rectus femoris, and adductors can be responsible for the apparent weakness inhibition or misfiring of the glutes. These three muscles are antagonistic to the Gmax and Gmed, and because of their anatomical position, any shortness in these muscles can result in a compensatory neur

From heel-strike to mid-stance of the gait cycle, the Gmax increases its activation and the hamstrings decrease theirs. The Gmax significantly increases the stabilization of the SIJs during early and mid-stance phases through the attachments of the posterior oblique sling. Weakness or misfiring in the Gmax will cause the hamstrings to remain active

• Ayotte et al. (2007): the best exercise for the Gmax is the forward step-up. • Ayotte et al. (2007): the best exercise for the Gmed is the unilateral wall squat. • Bolgla and Uhl (2005): the top exercise for the Gmed is the pelvic drop.

When RI is employed, the reduction in tone relies on the physiological inhibiting effect of antagonists on the contraction of a muscle. When the motor neurons of the contracting agonist muscle receive excitatory impulses from the afferent pathway, the motor neurons of the opposing antagonist muscle receive inhibitory impulses at the same time, whic

Tip: Overactivity of the adductors will result in a weakness inhibition of the abductors, in particular the gluteus medius. This can result in a Trendelenburg pattern of gait as explained in chapter 6