Corrective Exercise Flashcards

When performing a pushing assessment and a client exhibits scapular winging, which muscle is most likely underactive?

Answer: Serratus anterior

Serratus anterior holds the medial border of the scapula against the thorax; weakness causes winging.

A client with upper crossed syndrome would most likely display which postural deviation?

Answer: Forward head posture and rounded shoulders

Upper crossed syndrome involves tight chest/neck flexors and weak deep cervical flexors/lower trapezius, producing forward head and rounded shoulders.

Which corrective exercise is most appropriate for activating an inhibited gluteus maximus?

Answer: Supine bridge (glute bridge)

The supine bridge isolates and activates the gluteus maximus with minimal compensation from hip flexors.

During a pulling assessment, a client exhibits excessive cervical extension. Which muscle is most likely overactive?

Answer: Upper trapezius

An overactive upper trapezius elevates and anteriorly tilts the scapula, causing the neck to extend during pulling movements.

What is the primary purpose of the activation phase in the corrective exercise continuum?

Answer: Re-educate underactive muscles with low-load exercises

The activation phase uses isolated, low-load exercises to re-educate underactive muscles before integrated movement.

Lower crossed syndrome is characterized by which combination of muscle imbalances?

Answer: Tight hip flexors/lumbar extensors and weak abdominals/gluteals

Lower crossed syndrome involves overactive hip flexors and lumbar extensors paired with inhibited abdominals and gluteals, causing anterior pelvic tilt.

Which technique uses reciprocal inhibition to help lengthen an overactive muscle during corrective stretching?

Answer: Active-isolated stretching

Active-isolated stretching contracts the agonist to neurologically inhibit (via reciprocal inhibition) the opposite overactive muscle.