relative flexibility


relative flexibility

Increased mobility or frequency of movement in a joint adjacent to a body part with restricted mobility, such as an injured muscle, bone, capsule, tendon, or ligament. This can be a normal relationship between segments, but it can cause pathology and impairments. Relative flexibility can account for overuse, sprain, or strain of a joint due to stiffness in an adjacent joint. For example, lumbar spine strain due to short hamstrings limits hip motion. See also: flexibility