Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Flashcards

Which of the following best explains why hypermobile students are at higher injury risk despite appearing very flexible?

Answer: They lack the muscular strength and proprioception to control their extended range of motion

Hypermobile joints can exceed safe physiological ranges without adequate muscular stabilization, leading to sprains, dislocations, and chronic instability.

When should a yoga instructor refer a student to a healthcare provider rather than attempting to modify practice?

Answer: When a student reports radiating pain, swelling, joint instability, or symptoms that worsen with rest

Red-flag symptoms such as radiation, swelling, instability, or worsening pain at rest require professional medical evaluation beyond the scope of a yoga instructor.

What is the physiological reason why warming up before a yoga practice reduces injury risk?

Answer: Increased tissue temperature improves elasticity, circulation, and neuromuscular readiness

Elevated tissue temperature increases collagen extensibility and blood flow, and activates the neuromuscular system, all of which reduce injury risk.

A student with a history of ankle sprains struggles with balance in standing poses. Which yoga focus area should be prioritized in their practice?

Answer: Proprioceptive training through single-leg balance progressions with controlled surfaces

Proprioceptive retraining through progressive single-leg balance work restores neuromuscular control that is commonly impaired after ankle sprains.

Which of the following describes the safest approach to deepening a yoga student's flexibility over time?

Answer: Progressive overload: gradually increasing intensity over weeks while monitoring tissue response

Gradual, progressive loading respects tissue adaptation timelines and prevents the micro-tears and inflammation caused by abrupt increases in intensity.

Why is it important to avoid strong twisting and forward bending poses immediately after a student experiences a lumbar muscle strain?

Answer: Rotation and flexion under tension increase shear forces on already-stressed lumbar structures

Combining rotation and flexion loads injured lumbar muscles and discs with shear forces that can delay healing or cause further damage in the acute phase.

What is the recommended approach for a yoga instructor when they observe a student consistently compensating (e.g., hiking the hip) to reach a pose?

Answer: Address the compensation with a prop or regression to build the required strength or flexibility first

Compensatory movement patterns indicate a gap in strength or flexibility that, if uncorrected, leads to cumulative overuse injuries in the substituting structures.