neuromuscular system

the nervous system and muscles work together to allow movement

prepares the body for exercise

relaxes the body and slows down the high energy functions

type 1 slow oxidative, type 2a fast oxidative glycolitic, type 2x fast glycolitic

slower contraction speed and produce most of their energy aerobically. used for lower intensities, so have specific characteristics that allow them to use oxygem more efficiently

faster contraction speed and greater force. they provide energy anaerobically, and fatigue quickly, 2 types

provide a longer burst of energy, as the fibers are more resistan to fatigue used for events such as 1500m

provide a quick, short burst of energy so are used for highly explosive events like 100m. fibers fatigue much quicker than type 2a

increase in muscle size. the muscle becomes bigger and stronger

a motor unit is a motor neuron and its muscle fibers

nerve cells which transmit the brains instructions as electrical impulses to the muscles

where the motor neurone and the muscle fiber meet

where a sequence of impulses has to be of sufficient intensity to stimulate all of the muscle fibers in a motor unit, in order for them to contract, if not none of them will contract

motor units contain the same type of muscle fiber so they are either slow twitch or fast twitch motor units. the brain will recruit slow twitch for low intensity activities. if a greater force of contraction is needed the brain will recruit fast twitch

where there is a repeated nerve impulse with no time to relax, so a smooth sustained contraction occurs rather than twitches

a sustained muscle contraction caused by a series of fast repeating stimuli

when the strength of a contraction changes by altering the number and size of the muscles motor units

advanced streaching technique. effective for flexibility training

they detect how far and fast a muscle is being streached and produce a streach reflex. very sensitive proprioceptors that lie between the skeletal muscle fibers. they send exitatory signals to the CNS which sends signals back telling it to contact triggering a streatch reflex. this reflex causes the muscle to contract and prevent over streatching

activated when there is tension in a muscle. found between muscle fiber and tendon. when the muscle is contracted isometrically in PNF, they sence the increase in muscle tension and send inhibitory signals to the brain, this allows the agonist to relax and lengthen (autogenic inhibition)

when theres tension in a muscle but no visible movement

when there is a sudden relaxation of a muscle in responce to high tension - golgi tendon organs are the receptors involved

1.individual performs a passive streatch with the help of a partner until tension is felt. the streatch is detected by muscle spindles, if a muscle is being streatched too far then a streatch reflex should occur

the individual should then isometrically contract their muscle for atleast 10 seconds by pushing it against a partner who holds it stationary. during this the golgi tendon organs are activated and the inhibitory signals they send ovarride the excitatory signals from the muscle spindles delaying the streach reflex

the leg is then lifted again, the golgi tendon organs are responsible for the antagonist muscle relaxing, which means the leg streatches further. this process can be repreated until no more gains are possible.