Assisted stretching
Improve movement quality with assisted stretching to increase muscle pliability and joint health
Some practitioners preach that there is only one “right” way to stretch and that other methods are wrong.
That’s like arguing that a hammer is a better tool than a screw driver.
Both are effective at different things. And we need the right tools to get a job done right.
In the world of elite sports we know that athletes need to be able to move freely through a full range of motion AND have the ability to control it.
Only when the stretching techniques address both do you get results you can feel.
Vive’s stretching methodology is built around building functional mobility, not just flexibility.
The Techniques
Stretching is an ancient practice for a reason. We need mobility to move.
But mobility is more than just muscles and joints that are flexible. Functional mobility involves joints that can move freely without restriction. It’s muscle and connective tissue that is supple and pliable, and a nervous system that can control it.
Too many traditional stretching techniques forget that last part.
If your nervous system, stretch-reflexes, and motor control aren’t part of your stretching approach, you wont have flexibility to use. That is to say, you just end up like Gumby.
What to expect
Your Recovery Specialist will use several assisted stretching methods to address both the tissue and nervous system. These are integrated with the tissue work.
Vive Recovery Specialists address both flexibility and stability through a blend of methods including;
- Pin & Stretch to relax trigger points and improve fascial glide
- PNF (Proprioceptive NeuroMuscular Facilitation) stretching techniques to influence the nervous system, stretch reflex, and improve motor control.
- Gentle active isolated stretching that dynamically move joints through ranges of motion
- Fascial stretching techniques to address the linked system of the body and tie it all together
Assisted Stretching FAQs
The assisted stretches are done while fully clothed, but the clothing needs to allow movement and the Specialist to feel the muscle quality.
So we recommend typical workout gear.
For legs, shorts and/or compression pants work best, but tights can work as well. Jeans and pants don’t work well.
For upper body a loose workout t-shirt (and sports bra for women) works well.
Assisted stretching should not hurt. In some but there can be brief discomfort, but never pain.
Since everyone is different we recommend no more than 4-6 out of 10 on your intensity scale.
The Recovery Specialist applies traction and tension in the stretches, with most lasting for only 3-5 seconds.
It depends.
It depends on your goals and current tissue quality and mobility restrictions.
That’s why your Vive specialist will use several types of assisted stretching techniques. So you can get exactly what you need.
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