Flexing, extending, rotating, and massaging are techniques used to:

• A. Reducing / breaking rigor
• B. Initiating rigor
• C. Causing diffusion
• D. Preserving tissue

Answer: (A)

Rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles that occurs after death due to chemical changes in the muscle fibers. Flexing, extending, rotating, and massaging are used to gradually move joints and soft tissues, which helps loosen and break the contracted muscle fibers. This reduces or “breaks” the rigor, making it easier to reposition the body for care, handling, or preparation. These techniques are not for initiating rigor, nor are they used to cause diffusion or preserve tissue; their purpose is to lessen the stiffness once rigor has developed.