Stretch Therapy

 The overall goal of stretch therapy is to treat muscle tightness, joint imbalances, and tissue restrictions that cause movement distortions, aches and pains, and increased risk of injury.  Over time, stretch therapy improves range of motion, leading to improved movement patterns and fewer injuries. 

 Regardless of your occupation or preferred fitness activity, you likely engage in repetitive movements that lead to imbalances in muscle length and joint range of motion over time.  Additionally, injuries — whether current or former — can lead to altered movement patterns that cause similar restrictions, as well as further injury down the road.  If not addressed, these imbalances in your tissues will affect your movement and lead to poor movement quality, increased injury risk, decreased performance, and pain. 

 The effects of muscle imbalance compound over time and affect people of all fitness levels. The good news is that stretch therapy is effective for many groups of people, including older individuals, younger individuals, and athletes.  

Research has shown that older adults can improve their range of motion through a variety of techniques used in stretch therapy.  Additional research found that younger athletes who perform proper stretch therapy techniques can reduce their risk of non-contact injury during training and competition .

  Individual responses to stretching vary, and your specific athletic and medical history may affect the result of a specific stretching method .  Still, regardless of your fitness goals, age, or overall lifestyle, stretch therapy techniques are likely to increase your range of motion, improve your performance, and reduce your overall risk of injury.