Podcast Episode #97: Don't Stretch 'Til You Assess! Just Cause it "Feels" Tight Doesn't Mean It Is!

In this episode I discuss length-tension relationships and why just stretching, or even rolling and stretching, may be the exact opposite of what you need to do. When a muscle or joints hurts, we're often told to "stretch it." This can be a serious problem, and the case study I present shows why it can not only be not-helpful, but can actually backfire. If muscle or joint pain occur, find a practitioner who uses assessments to find the actual problem, and then solves it! Just stretching is rarely the solution. If you think you need to stretch, the next question(s) should be: "Why is this muscle excessively tight (overly facilitated), and if it is tight, are there opposing muscles that are excessively "loose" (neurologically inhibited)? Should activating and strengthening the inhibited muscles be part of the process to correct the overly facilitated muscles?"

 

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