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.