Final answer:
Overly strong muscles can restrict joint motion due to the excessive force exerted, which tightens and shortens muscle fibers. Strong ligaments also reduce mobility but increase stability and weight-bearing ability. Imbalance and heavy exertion can damage joints, necessitating balance in muscle development and technique to preserve joint health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Being too strong can restrict a joint's range of motion because muscles and their tendons generate significant forces across the joints they serve. When a muscle becomes overly developed, it can exert excessive force and thus limit the natural movement a joint might otherwise have. Additionally, heavily muscled individuals, such as weightlifters, can experience a decrease in flexibility due to the tightened and shortened muscle fibers resulting from intensive strength training.
In contrast to a very mobile joint like the shoulder that has less ligament support and more freedom of movement, joints such as the hip are restricted by strong ligaments which reduce the range of motion but increase stability and are able to bear more weight. While this stability is beneficial for functions like standing, it does mean that the joint cannot move as freely as others with less ligament support.
Moreover, in the context of athletics, joints experience large forces during activities, and improper technique or heavy muscle exertion can lead to joint damage, such as 'tennis elbow' in racquet sports. Therefore, balance in muscle development and careful attention to technique is crucial to maintaining both joint health and range of motion.