muscle range of work

what is muscle range?activre and passive insufficiency? and why is it important in physiotherapy?

Muscle range is usually better described as muscle extensibility. This is about muscles having the normal length so when they are passively stretched a normal length is achieved. Muscles that are too short may cause increased abnormal forces over time on a joint the muscle crosses. Muscles that are too long often behave as a weak muscle and cause similar changes in forces across a joint. Both these problems can result in soft tissue damage in the medium to long term and in the long term could be relate to degenerative changes in joints and soft tissues.

The above are examples of passive insufficiency (allowing too much or too little movement) Active insufficiency relates to the inability of the muscle to contract and work appropriately within a given activity. this is usually to do with weakness of the muscle although if the muscle is too strong or too stiff compared to other muscles this can also cause problems.

A large number of problems that one sees in physiotherapy relate to these underlying sorts of muscle imbalances - so yes this is quite important.

how can we describe the three classifications of the muscle range that is inner, outer and middle?

A muscle has a certain length. When a muscle contracts it generally shortens and when it relaxes it lets go - and with the help of gravity or an external force it will lengthen.

If a muscle is contracting concentrically and you start out in a fully lengthened position then the muscle starts in its lengthened range, moves through its middle range and finally into its shortened range. As it relaxes the reverse happens

there are a few distinctive features about the range a muscle is working in. For example a muscle is usually strongest in its middle range and weakest a the very end of the shortened or lengthened range

To more directly answer your question Balphina,

Outer Range: When a muscle is in a lengthened state. I.e. standing and flexing knee as far as you can (quads stretch) will put your quads @ outer range. Generally in its outer range, the muscle is on stretch!

Middle range: Point which your muscle is generally at its best length-tension relationship . i.e. your forearm bent to approximately 60 degrees has your biceps @ around middle range. (length is between inner and outer range)

Inner range: When your muscle is @ it's shortest length. I.e. flexing your shoulder (> 90 degrees) and flexing your elbow (as much as you can) will put your bicep @ its Inner range.

Understand that your muscle isn't only @ its outer/inner range when it hits it's shortest/longest possible length, these are "zones" we use to describe the muscle length. So you could well argue when your shoulder is not flexed, and you bend your elbow to 160 degrees that your biceps is in "inner range". Generally if you are describing a muscle position, using the muscle "range", it is generally a good idea to also give joint position information for a clearer picture, if talking generally, you can mostly just use the muscle "range".

As gcoe explained, knowing about your muscle ranges is very important in understanding length-tension relationships and in describing muscle positions, patterns etc.