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What Does Extension Mean?

By Marguerite Ogle, About.com

Updated: October 25, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Definition: To extend is to take things further apart. Anatomically we say that we are using our muscles as extensors when we use them to decrease the angel between parts.
Pronunciation: x-ten-shon
Examples: When you lie flat and your instructor tells you to extend the energy out the top of your head and tailbone, they are asking you to have a little angel in the trunk of your body as possible.
Plank is an extension exercise.

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