« "They Say It's Your Birthday" | Fingertips Home | Massage Therapist Redefines Volunteerism »
October 15, 2005
Facilitated Stretching
The importance of stretching in any exercise regimen cannot be emphasized enough. Stretching should be part of warm up before exercise and part of the cool down afterward. In fact, stretching can be the exercise all on its own. But sometimes when an athlete is trying to increase their performance or heal from an injury, facilitated or two person stretching is in order.
"A strong muscle is an elastic one," Watkins says. "Stretching balances you, and your muscles are better able to take stress."
Watkins uses a combination of assisted and resistant stretching. He'll push Grubb's leg up to stretch the hamstring until Grubb feels the stretch, then ask him to push back. When they repeat the move a few seconds later, he can stretch farther.
For a good book on the technique check out Facilitated Stretching by Robert E. McAtee and Jeff Charland.
Posted by linda at October 15, 2005 10:34 AM
