LEVEL D: Leg Lunge with Crossover Reach | D2 Pattern

Functional Purpose

Biomechanical Outcomes:

Synthesize wrist, radius /ulnar, gleno-humeral and scapula motions to reflexively cue and emphasize thoracic rotation / extension necessary to accommodate.

Facilitate reciprocal motion of pelvis and thoracic spine, emphasizing the frontal and transverse plane to enhance thoracic extension.

Integrate contra-lateral gleno-humeral / hip joint motions to heighten efficiency of thoracic extension coupled with rotation / lateral flexion.

Neurological | Physiological Outcomes

Elicit tissue elasticity and resiliency associated with thoracic extension and rotation during eccentric loading.

Up-regulate afferent sensory input due to the anterior / posterior displacement of mass / momentum during lunge, increasing motor unit recruitment and autonomic reaction.

Psycho | Social Outcomes:

With its enriched, variable environment, this up-regulates the co-construction of a comprehensive appraisal (cognitive-evaluation) of the proposed task, and the subcortical, autonomic mechanisms execution of the exercise.

Modifications:

Depth of lunge.

Distance of reaching arm.

Contraindications:

Subacromial impingement syndrome.

Inability to support body weight during the anterior lunge movement.



  

LEVEL D: Leg Lunges with Crossover Reach & Side Bend Away

Functional Purpose

Biomechanical Outcomes:

Facilitate a top-down environment where the transverse plane rotation and contra-lateral frontal plane lateral flexion enhances the demand for sagittal plane thoracic extension.

Heighten the demand for thoracic extension as a result of the arms reaching overhead and across the body.

Neurological | Physiological Outcomes

Promote connective tissue elasticity associated with dynamically loading / stabilizing sagittal, frontal and transverse plane motions of the thorax.

Elicit a heightened somatosensory response due to the simultaneous bottom-up (anterior lunge) and top-down (driving arms) influence.

Integrate sensory-motor mechanisms (visual, vestibular, somatosensory) involved with thoracic extension, rotation, lateral flexion during whole body kinematics.

Psycho | Social Outcomes:

Establish a multidimensional environment involving the neural-networks associated with managing heightened emotional states (anxiety, hyperviligence, etc) during the execution of a complex motor task; ultimately enhancing the higher-level executive functioning of self- regulation and self-efficacy.

Modifications:

Depth of lunge.

Pre-position feet into a staggered stance starting position, eliminating the anterior lunge component.

Contraindications:

Subacromial impingement syndrome.

Inability to support body weight during the anterior lunge movement.

 

Level A

Level B

Level C

Level D