Living in constant pain affects the quality of your life.
Whether your pain comes from an old injury, a sedentary lifestyle, or muscular imbalances, the key to relief is restoring movement to the areas that are giving you trouble. Assisted stretching in Lake Mary is a gentle approach to pain-free living that will restore the quality of your life.
If you’d like to ditch the pain you’re living with, read on for the top five benefits of assisted stretching, compiled by our experts at Kersenbrock Chiropractic, LLC.
What Is Assisted Stretching? 
Assisted stretching is a form of bodywork in which a trained therapist applies range-of-motion movements to a client.
It’s also known as Assisted Myofascial Stretch Therapy or Assisted Myofascial Neuromuscular Therapy. The therapist works to restore mobility by manually stretching out the muscles and breaking through fascia barriers.
Unlike dynamic stretching, which requires the patient to move around, assisted stretching is performed on a massage table. The patient’s spine is well supported in a safe position.
Top 5 Benefits of Assisted Stretching
Stretching is well known as a healing technique. Assisted stretching takes it a step further by allowing the patient to relax while the therapist targets the right muscle groups to reduce limitations and strengthen problem areas.
Whether your goal is to compete in your chosen sport, safely make it through a yoga class, or pick up your grandchild without putting your back out, assisted stretching can get you there. These are the top 5 benefits that Kersenbrock Chiropractic, LLC. clients have experienced.
1. Increased Range of Motion
Range of motion is simply how far you can extend your joints within comfortable limits. Aging will slowly reduce the level of flexibility your body has. Suffering an injury or undergoing surgery can also have a severe impact on your normal range of motion in the affected area.
This creates an imbalance in how you perform everyday movements and can lead to further injury as your body compensates.
Assisted stretching will help you regain your former range of motion and help you gain new ground with improved flexibility as well. Assisted stretching stimulates your body to produce natural lubricants that make movement easier.
2. Less Body Stiffness
Due to stress and the demands of daily life, you may find yourself wound up and unable to relax. Subconsciously, stress and anxiety affect your muscles and lead to muscle knots, tightness, and stiffness that can be hard to shake.
Assisted stretching is gentle and targeted to focus on your problem areas. It relieves muscle tension, which will allow you to fully relax. You’ll find your muscles loosen up, and balance will return. Strong, supple muscles make good posture effortless, and you’ll easily do whatever life requires of you.
3. Lowers Stress Levels
Stress can lead to many health issues such as headaches and stomach ulcers. Stretching relieves muscle tension. As your muscles relax, you’ll find yourself feeling more relaxed too. Your blood flow will increase, circulating nutrients and oxygen to every part of your body.
Movement encourages the release of endorphins, which counteract the effects of stress.
All of these things contribute to a strong sense of well-being that eliminates the need for your body to release cortisol and adrenaline, the infamous stress hormones.
4. Improves and Increases Flexibility
Muscles need to be engaged regularly. They need to be moved, stretched, and strengthened. Age, unhealthy life patterns, and injuries can lead to muscle imbalances. These can inhibit free movement and limit your mobility.
Regular assisted stretching will counteract that by keeping your muscles warm and limber. Stretching leads to a greater range of motion and individual muscle stretching. Not only will your flexibility improve, but so will your balance and mobility.
5. Physical Performance Benefits
There are two sides to improving physical performance. Assisted stretching checks both the boxes:
- effective recovery after each workout
- aiding the body to improve performance in the next workout
Recovery time is necessary for preventing injury and reducing stiff muscles or soreness.
Improving performance means increasing mobility, flexibility, strength, agility, speed, and power. Assisted stretching puts you in the hands of a therapist who understands which muscles need loosening or strengthening for you to reach your goals.
Ready to book your first stretching session at Kersenbrock Chiropractic, LLC? Call us at (407) 732-6920 to make an appointment!
4 Types of Stretches
In an assisted stretching session, there are different types of physical therapy stretches that your therapist will work through with you.
1. Passive Stretching
The body is completely relaxed while being stretched. A trained therapist can manipulate a body into effective positions to target specific muscle groups while the client is mostly relaxed. This type of stretching relaxes the mind and body while releasing endorphins.
A morning stretching when you wake up is a form of passive stretching.
2. Stretching with Resistance
The client actively resists the stretches that the therapist applies with up to 10 to 50 percent effort. This effectively supports unstable joints throughout each movement. Resistance stretching is a good method for inactive or elderly clients, children going through growth spurts, or clients needing joint rehabilitation.
3. Active Stretching
For those struggling with tight areas due to imbalance in the opposing muscle group, active stretching can provide relief. Whichever muscle is opposite to the one being stretched is kept contracted throughout the stretch. Working with the opposite muscle can wake up non-functioning muscle areas to relieve imbalances that cause pain.
4. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
The targeted muscle group is stretched and contracted at the same time. This leads to gaining mobility without forcing stretches beyond the client’s comfort level. To achieve this effect, the client will press into the therapist’s stretch. The position will be held for 10 to 30 seconds, allowing the muscle tissue to stretch safely, without inflicting injury.
Feel the Benefits of Assisted Stretching in Lake Mary at Kersenbrock Chiropractic, LLC.
Assisted stretching is a safe way to regain your full range of motion, recover from injury or achieve your sporting goals. With types of stretches targeted to your specific needs, assisted stretching will unlock a level of free movement that might have seemed unattainable.
If you’re ready to walk away from pain, we are here to help you. The stretch therapists at Kersenbrock Chiropractic, LLC. are among the most highly trained in assisted stretching in Lake Mary.