AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam

Which technique promotes neuromuscular response through proprioceptors?

1. Dynamic stretching

2. Static stretching

3. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

4. Ballistic stretching

The correct answer is: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

The technique that promotes neuromuscular response through proprioceptors is Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, often referred to as PNF. PNF stretching involves a combination of stretching and contracting the muscle group being targeted. This method directly engages the proprioceptors, such as the muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs, which are sensory receptors that provide the nervous system with information about body position, movement, and muscle tension. By eliciting a reflexive response during the PNF technique, the neuromuscular system is able to improve flexibility and enhance motor performance. Specifically, the contraction during PNF stretching activates the Golgi tendon organs, which leads to an increased relaxation of the muscle when it is subsequently stretched. This makes PNF an effective technique for improving range of motion and overall muscular coordination. The other techniques, while beneficial for flexibility and mobility, do not specifically target proprioceptive responses in the same way. Dynamic stretching involves active movements that stretch muscles, but it primarily focuses on warming up and preparing muscles for activity rather than enhancing neuromuscular reflexes. Static stretching holds a stretch in a fixed position, which does not engage the same range of mechanoreceptors or involve the muscle contractions that PNF does