These are four slides to explain the importance of understanding proprioceptive movement in the body as it relates to teaching yoga as well as practicing yoga.

1. PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION: Arthrokinematics Trifecta and Yoga
When in alignment, the body should work like a well lubricated machine
with little friction. These three components help us maintain our postures
in yoga along with command of the breath.
Arthrokinematics = Joint action in motion
- Motion is caused by muscle groups, ligaments, and tendons
- Wrap around our joints to move bones from point A to point B
Length-tension relationship = Muscle’s ability to flex upon a major joint
- The length at which assigned muscles produce the most force needed to move a body
part
- Torque force needed by muscle and connective tissues to rotate an object about an axis,
fulcrum, hinge, or pivot of a joint while staying in alignment
Force couple relationships = Muscle relationships that work together in
motion or in support
- Muscles act as Primary movers, Antagonists, or Synergists in the muscular
system to execute yoga postures
Melissa Nordin

2. Compromises
the health of a
joint and its
capsule
Drastically
affects
localized joint
integrity and
the integrity &
stability of
other joints
Alters position
of muscle and
bone as they
move around
the joint
Arthrokinematic (joint) dysfunction
Melissa Nordin
IN YOGA:
Consistent hyperextension
of the knees as a result of
poor posture in life and
consistent alignment issues
in yoga practice:
• Creates instability in
Dancer Pose and other
standing balancing
postures
• Leads to pain in lower
back, hip, knee and/or
ankle resulting in injury
PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION: Arthrokinematics Trifecta and Yoga
The following information is a trifecta that will lead to loss of muscle and joint integrity, causing weakness and injury in Yoga

3. Compromises
the muscle
integrity and
reduces the
force needed to
articulate (move)
a joint
Leads to
overactive or
overstretched
muscles,
tendons or
ligaments at
connecting site
Muscle length is
negatively
altered to
accommodate
the pull of
gravity on the
body by
shortening or
over-stretching
Length-Tension Relationships
IN YOGA:
Tight shoulders,
shortened chest muscles
from the habit of
rounding shoulders
forward, and weak
abdominal muscles
and/or back muscles of
the core:
• Instability in
Chaturanga
Dandasana
• Pain in shoulders,
wrists, lower back
www.Yogaoutlet.comMelissa Nordin
PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION: Length Tension Relationships and Yoga

4. Alignment
issues disrupt
the neural flow
of impulses
from the brain
to the muscles
Muscles receive
the wrong
signals, override
the correct path
and are made to
do the work of
other muscles,
not what it was
designed for
Disrupts the
shape and
integrity of
muscle group as
a whole, causing
pain and/or
injury
Force Couple Relationships
IN YOGA:
Over-developed, tight
muscles on one side of the
body pull bones out of
alignment & joints out of axis
of rotation
• Faulty signal from the
brain overrides the
gluteal muscles as
primary mover to execute
pose
• Synergistic Dominance
occurs as Hamstrings are
recruited for this lift and
strained while lifting the
body up into Bridge pose
www.Yogaoutlet.com
PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION and Yoga
Melissa Nordin
PROPRIOCEPTIVE DYSFUNCTION: Force Couple Relationships and Yoga