Physiology

Barrett L. Dorko, P.T. The term “flexibility” we commonly use in physical therapy means not only the quantity of movement available in a joint or group of joints but usually implies an easy excursion of periarticular structures in response to active or passive motion. In orthopaedics, establishing normal flexibility is commonly the goal of care when evaluation reveals a loss of normal, painless joint range and at least a theoretical connection between this loss and the patient’s complaint. Much has been made of the concepts of hypo and hypermobility;12 especially as related to spinal motion. More recently the additional problem…