ACE Personal Trainer Practice Exam

In the Hold-Relax with Agonist Contraction PNF, what happens after the target muscle is relaxed and passively stretched?

1. The opposing muscle group is contracted

2. The target muscle is re-stretched immediately

3. Static holding is performed for 10 seconds

4. A dynamic movement is introduced

The correct answer is: The opposing muscle group is contracted

In the Hold-Relax with Agonist Contraction Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) technique, the process involves two primary actions after the target muscle has been relaxed and passively stretched. The first action is the contraction of the opposing muscle group. This contraction serves several purposes: it enhances the neuromuscular response and increases flexibility in the target muscle through reciprocal inhibition, allowing for a greater range of motion. The contraction of the opposing muscle facilitates the stretch of the target muscle further because when one muscle contracts, the opposing muscle relaxes. The other options do not describe the next step accurately within this specific PNF technique. The target muscle isn’t immediately re-stretched; instead, the emphasis is on engaging the opposing muscle group. Static holding for ten seconds is typically part of another type of PNF stretching but not the step following the relaxation in the Hold-Relax with Agonist Contraction methodology. Similarly, introducing a dynamic movement may not occur right after the passive stretch and is not a characteristic of this specific technique, which focuses on static and controlled movements. Thus, the contraction of the opposing muscle group is a critical component of this PNF approach.