Is Assisted Stretching A Waste of Money?
We pay people to give us massages, paint our nails and do our hair. But is it really worth paying someone to stretch you? I mean after all we can do it ourselves, right? You might be surprised by the answer…
Let’s face it, we know stretching is good for us. But how many of us actually take the time to stretch ourselves for 15-30 minutes? And even if you do, are you doing it right? That’s where a certified stretching professional can help.
Assisted stretching has recently been promoted by the likes of Forbes, CNN, Yahoo and many others as a rapidly growing industry, not because of how soft their massage tables are, but rather how dramatically is can help someone achieve greater flexibility in such a short period of time.
Studies have shown that assisted stretching has many health benefits – and you should definitely be tapping into these!
Do you live in the Tri-State area? Check out a StretchPlex near you!
Here are 3 wonderful benefits of participating in assisted stretching:
1. Improved Range of Motion
After physical activity, injuries, and especially as we age, our muscles and joints can become less mobile. This is a common physiological phenomenon and a way of your body telling you “that’s enough!”. In some respects, that response is a good thing. But for the vast majority of us, this response is counterproductive. Moving about your life in a body that is functioning with limited range of motion can lead to a great deal of orthopedic issues that if aren’t address can lead to injury. When assisted stretching is conducted by one of our certified stretching specialists, they are able to move your joints and muscles in a safe and effective way that can improve your range of motion so that you are at less risk from injuring yourself.
2. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
When your body moves, your nervous system sends signals to your brain telling your body to stop moving before it goes too far and might injury itself.
Assisted stretching, which uses a technique called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), helps to reprogram these signals.
Using PNF techniques allows your body to safely lengthen your muscles before your body tells it to stop.
3. Increase Athletic Performance
If you’re looking for a way to give yourself an edge on the field or the court, assisted stretching is the tool you’ve been looking for.
We all know the benefits of stretching before and after physical activity, but a certified stretching specialist are trained to find asymmetries and problem areas and address them. By addressing these issues you’ll be less likely to sustain injury and improve your athletic output. Assisted stretching will also decrease muscle soreness from activity and therefore reduce your recovery time.
The Takeaway: Why Assisted Stretching is the Way Forward
Stretching is certainly great for the body, but assisted stretching? That just takes the benefits to a whole other level.
Depending on how frequently you engage in assisted stretching, you can look forward improved range of motion and an improvement in your physical abilities.
So what are you waiting for? Have a StretchPlex stretching specialist help you today with an assisted stretch.
Click here to schedule a stretch session with one of our stretching specialists.