Which process is primarily responsible for managing muscle tension during stretching?

Autogenic inhibition is the process primarily responsible for managing muscle tension during stretching. When a muscle is stretched, the Golgi tendon organs (sensory receptors located at the junction of muscles and tendons) detect the increased tension. In response to this heightened tension, these receptors send signals to the central nervous system to inhibit the activity of the muscle being stretched. This mechanism allows the muscle to relax and elongate more effectively, thereby facilitating a deeper stretch without risking injury from excessive tension.

This process plays a critical role in flexibility training as it prevents the muscle from contracting against the stretch, thus enabling a safer and more effective stretching experience. Understanding autogenic inhibition is essential for developing appropriate stretching techniques that can maximize range of motion while minimizing the risk of strains or other injuries.