Why You Need Assisted Stretching
Lower back pain. Stiff neck. Tight hamstrings. These aren’t pains we just have to live with and power through. There’s a solution for these “everyday” pains, and we offer it right here at Beechmont Racquet and Fitness. It’s assisted stretching, and it can give you a life with less pain.
Pain reduction is just one benefit of assisted stretching, though. In an article on the Muscle and Fitness website, Cord DeMoss, a physical therapist in Tulsa, Oklahoma explains that “‘being tight’ is almost always associated with the nervous system stopping us from going farther, rather than the muscle itself actually being unable to lengthen anymore.” PNF is effective at downregulating (or calming down) the nervous system,” DeMoss explains. So, assisted stretching is not only good for our muscles but can help calm our stress response and make us feel better!
Most people who work out regularly know that stretching before a workout and on a regular basis can prevent injuries. But, what we find is that many people either fail to commit to a consistent stretching routine or push themselves too hard when they stretch.
Scheduling sessions with someone trained in an assisted stretching technique such as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (which is the technique we use here at Beechmont) can help you strike the right balance between under stretching and over stretching. How else might adding this to your weekly workout routine help you?
How Assisted Stretching Will Improve Your Wellbeing
According to an article on CNN’s Life But Better fitness site, “there are numerous benefits to assisted stretching such as increasing your flexibility, blood circulation, and range of motion. It also helps decrease pain and stiffness, and it lowers your risk of injury. Assisted stretching can improve your core strength and posture, and enhance your athletic performance while reducing your recovery time. Stretching is even touted as a way to lower your stress levels, improve your sleep and boost your energy.” We all want less stress, better sleep, and fewer injuries!
If you’re wondering whether assisted stretching may be helpful to you, give it a try–even if you’re not experiencing specific pains. You may have areas on your body that are tighter than you realize, and if you spend a lot of your week sitting, that is likely the case. As you can see, it’s more than mere stretching. It could be life-changing!
Check out some of the known benefits of PNF assisted stretching:
PNF Stretching
Reduces
lower back pain
muscle stiffness
injuries
stress
sore areas
joint pain
blood pressure
Increases
range of motion
flexibility
blood circulation
Improves
balance
posture
mobility
exercise recovery
athletic performance
Sources:
McManus, Melanie R. “If You’re Living with Chronic Aches and Pains, This Activity Could Bring Relief.” CNN.Com, 11 Mar. 2022, www.cnn.com/2022/03/11/health/assisted-stretching-improve-flexibility-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Practitioners%20claim%20there%20are%20numerous,lowers%20your%20risk%20of%20injury. Accessed 22 Jun. 2023.
McShane, SJ. “WORKOUT TIPS WHAT IS PNF, AND WHY CAN IT HELP YOU RECOVER FROM YOUR WORKOUTS FASTER?” MuscleandFitness.Com, www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/what-is-pnf-and-why-can-it-help-you-recover-from-your-workouts-faster/. Accessed 22 Jun. 2023.