The Benefits of Assisted Stretching
1. AVOID MOBILITY PROBLEMS
As the human body ages, it is expected that mobility will be reduced with time. However, we can help extend our years of agility by increasing our flexibility now, which can help to slow down the "aging" process.
2. IMPROVE RANGE OF MOTION
When the range of motion within a joint is limited, it can have an impact on our freedom of movement.
Stretching to support range of motion is important to not only optimize our performance while playing sports, but it can also have an impact on reducing the risk of injury.
3. INJURY PREVENTION
Before exercising, it is important to make sure our muscles, tendons, and ligaments are prepared for the activity. Active or Dynamic stretching is a gentle way to warm up the muscles before stepping on the playing field.
As a result, muscle movement is more fluid, which is important for injury prevention. For best results, include stretching with other warm-up activities such as a short walk or jog.
4. HELP MANAGE PAIN & DISCOMFORT
Whether we have an old joint injury, or recurring back pain, stretching can be a critical step to helping with improving recovery.
For example, strengthening the core and back muscles, along with regular stretching to lengthen the muscles, can reduce the risk of strain in the back.
5. IMPROVE CIRCULATION
The cells within our muscles are fed through the blood flow that delivers nutrients and takes away waste.
Stretching can help with an improvement in circulation, which can be beneficial in preparing our muscles for physical activity and also reducing recovery time after the workout or game.
6. POSTURE CORRECTION
Did you know that overly-tight muscles can lead to slouching and other posture issues? Muscle imbalances are common in both athletes and people living a sedentary lifestyle.
These imbalances can lead to poor posture, which can have a life-long impact on the overall structure of the skeleton.
The best way to maintain good posture is through regular stretching and strengthening of the muscle groups to improve proper alignment.
7. RELEASE TENSION
How often do you find that your shoulders are sore? One cause may be that you are holding tension in your neck and back.
Not only does stretching offer benefits for physical improvements, but it can also help with stress relief. Muscles can tighten in response to emotional and physical stress. Some of us may even experience headaches that are known as "tension headaches" if certain muscles are too tight.
This stress can be reduced by focusing on stretching the areas of the body that are holding the stress.
Why Corrective Exercise?
Before I make this too complicated, let's put it in simple terms. Your supporting muscles aren't doing their job.
You go to the chiropractor, you have been taking stretching classes, and got your cortisol shot and yet the pain persists in your back, knee or shoulders. Your range of motion improves but a few days later your tightness starts all over again. Perhaps you feel some improvement but the least little movement that goes wrong sets you back to where you started.
One reason for your pains, tightness or repeated injury is imbalances in the body. When you were younger or new to a sport it was easy to get past injuries or incorrect training, however over time we develop severe imbalances that causes displacements of the joints. Our body starts to protect itself and fight tightness with even more tightness.
One example is years of jujitsu without any rehab or conditioning can lead to an uneven pelvis that can lead to knee pain. Pain that leads to degenerative problems, and degenerative problems that lead to surgery or complications with your lifestyle or hobbies.
Corrective therapy can give you a wider range of motion more so than stretching. Doesn't stretching help bring the body back into balance? Yes and no. Overtight muscles can benefit from stretching and release methods. Also, a healthy muscle structure can benefit from stretching to increase the rage of motion. However, one reason for that frustrating tightness that comes back again and again is caused from muscles that are underactive. This causes your supportive muscles to activate tighter than normal and to compensate for imbalance and instability.
Releasing your tight muscles can help improve your range of motion, however if it is not lasting long, it is because many of the other muscles that are not being activated. This results in starting over again and again with release methods.
This can be the reason you have to visit your chiropractor many times in the month and why your stretching regimen isn't giving you the freedom you need. The opposing muscles just simply aren't doing their job. Corrective exercise can force muscles that aren't firing off to start working with movement correctly to improve stability in that joint. Thus, preventing more injury or unnecessary wear and tear.
