Bretty101 Posted January 8, 2004 Posted January 8, 2004 I wonder if anyone can answer this for me... Tendons connect muscle to bone and Ligaments connect bones to bones. (I'm sure i'm right so far) Now you cannot stretch ligaments without damaging them for example: hyper extension or bending a joint out of it natural plane of motion. But you can 'stretch' muscles. (I know the muscle doesn't physically stretch but you effectively increase its range of motion, anyway beside the point) ...onto the question(s)... You can stretch a muscle, you can't stretch a ligament, can you stretch a tendon? When your doing stretching exercises do you stretch the tendon as well as the muscle, or just the muscle? I must have been sick the day we did tendons at school! Cheers! Bretty
Rich67 Posted January 8, 2004 Posted January 8, 2004 Yes, tendons can be stretched. Contortionists routinely do this when they flex their bodies in all sorts of wierd positions. And yes, you do stretch the tendon also when stretching muscles: ie: the runners stretch not only stretches the gastroc and soleus (calf muscles) but also stretches the achilles tendon if you force the heel to the floor. Mixed Martial Artist
cross Posted January 9, 2004 Posted January 9, 2004 Isometrics is used to mostly strengthen the tendons but im sure it stretches them also.
Bretty101 Posted January 9, 2004 Author Posted January 9, 2004 ... ie: the runners stretch not only stretches the gastroc and soleus (calf muscles) but also stretches the achilles tendon if you force the heel to the floor. Doesn't the achillles tendon join the calf muscles to the underside of your heel?
Rich67 Posted January 9, 2004 Posted January 9, 2004 I think so. I'm not too up on my physiology 101, but it aids in the flexion and extension of the foot at the ankle. Mixed Martial Artist
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