ASSISTED STRETCH THERAPY FOR THE RELIEF OF LOWER BACK PAIN

Having a stretch therapist do your stretching for you will result in a much deeper stretch than you are capable of achieving yourself. This is because you are lying down, and your muscles are in a more relaxed state. When your muscles are relaxed, your muscles and joints can go further into their range of motion.

The benefits of assisted stretching are many.

Postural Improvements
If you are a software programmer or you have a job where you sit at a computer for 4-10 hours per day, your shoulders, chest, upper back, and neck can get incredibly tight, resulting in chronic aches and pains. Assisted stretch therapy decreases the tightness and improves tissue pliability, which rapidly decreases the aches and pains you experience in the workplace.

Stress Reduction
Chronic muscle tension creates pathways within the body that translate from your back to your shoulders and up into your neck and head. That tension can cause headaches and pain, leading to increased mental stress. With muscles that are more supple and pliable, oxygen is transported more easily through your bloodstream to your brain. Stretching relaxes not only your muscles but also your brain.

Injury Prevention
If you’re a highly physically active person, muscle pliability, elasticity, and joint mobility are crucial for injury prevention. Physical activity stresses the muscles and joints, but with improved flexibility, your muscles and joints can move through their full ranges more safely. Improved pliability means less chance for tendon strains and muscle pulls.

Sports Performance Improvements
If you’re an athlete, assisted stretching can greatly improve your performance. Golfers are particularly drawn to stretch therapy because of the flexibility and range of motion improvements that benefit their golf swing. Athletes of all types can improve their performance, though. With decreased muscle tension, your muscles contract and relax with more efficiency. With an improved range of motion and pliability, speed and velocity improve. It doesn’t matter if you are a sprinter or a quarterback. Improving flexibility is a performance enh