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The Kinevia Duo Active Passive Trainer is a complete rehabilitation device for the whole body, plus various training modes make it the ideal companion for neurologic and orthopedic rehabilitation. Ingenious rotating system for the arm exerciser provides optimum comfort during both arm and leg. Rehabilitation exercise equipment, Canada's Active Passive Trainer dealer. Active – exercise muscles against the motor's resistance.
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The range of motion in your joints can affect your quality of life. Range of motion is the amount of movement you have at each joint. It is related to flexibility and is an important part of an exercise program. Understanding both active and passive ranges of motion and their importance can help you improve your flexibility and performance.
Compare Active vs Passive
Your active and passive range of motion may be very different, not only from each other, but also at the joints themselves. Active range of motion means you move a joint through its range of motion, or ROM. Passive range of motion involves someone else moving a joint for you. Anytime you are moving your body, you are using active ROM. An example of passive ROM is if a doctor is testing a joint, such as the shoulder, and is moving it for you without your assistance.
Appreciate the Importance of Each
Active ROM is what you work with everyday and tends to be the type of ROM that concerns most people. If you have limited active ROM, you may have trouble lifting your arms overhead for exercising or putting away groceries, for example. It could also limit performance during sporting activities and thus increase the chance of injury. Passive ROM is not a concern for everyone, however. It is significant if you have a long-term or permanent change to your body, such as being in a wheelchair. You may not be able to move your joints, but having a nurse or therapist do it for you helps maintain ROM and can reduce pain or dysfunction. It is also used a lot for physical therapy if you have an injury.
Improve Your ROM
Active and passive ROM can be improved through stretching and even strengthening exercises. Dynamic stretches, such as arm circles, or pulling one knee at a time to your chest in a standing position, take strength and flexibility. It is good for warming up before a sport performance or exercise. Static stretches where you hold a stretch can improve both active and passive ROM. These are the stretches you do after a workout when your muscles are warmed up. Holding a stretch 15 seconds or longer can show greater improvements to your active ROM than shorter stretches, according to researchers from School of Health Sciences, University of Sunderland, United Kingdom, who published a study in the 'British Journal of Sports Medicine.'
Consider Factors Affecting ROM
There are many factors that can affect both active and passive ROM. Your lifestyle is a major contributing factor. If you are sedentary, or perform repetitive tasks throughout the day, you may have limited ROM. Injury or a chronic condition, such as arthritis, could also affect both active and passive ROM. Your body size can also limit ROM. If you are overweight, excess skin and fat could impede your movement. As you lose weight, however, you will notice that both active and passive ROM improve.
References (4)
- ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription; American College of Sports Medicine
About the Author
Bethany Kochan began writing professionally in 2010. She has worked in fitness as a group instructor, personal trainer and fitness specialist since 1998. Kochan graduated in 2000 from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in exercise science. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist and certified YogaFit instructor.
Active vs. passive stretching--the benefits of both.
Stretching is an excellent way to improve mobility and flexibility. Knowing the techniques and benefits for both active and passive stretching, will help you choose the right one at the right time.
Active Stretching: In active stretching, there is no external force being provided. You are actively moving one muscle group to stretch another. Active stretches can be completed without a stretching partner or stretching accessories. If you are performing the stretch with no external force, it is an active stretch.
Passive Stretching: In passive stretching, there is an external force being provided. You are being stretched instead of actively stretching. Passive stretching can be accomplished through partner stretches, using stretching accessories and/or just using gravity to assist your stretch. If the stretch is reliant on an external force, it is a passive stretch.
Passive static stretches are a great way to improve flexibility and can be used as a cool down. Active dynamic stretches are most commonly used as a warm up and are ideal to promote blood flow to the exercised muscle groups prior to activity.
To learn more about Active, Passive, Dynamic, Static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, click the link below and learn how to become a Stretching and Flexibility Instructor.
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