We all know stretching is good for us—it can decrease stress, reduce pain, and boost energy. Regular stretching can also lower our risk of injury, improve balance, and, of course, increase flexibility. Problem is, getting at those tough to reach spots isn’t easy.

That’s where assisted stretching comes in. Certified stretch specialists are trained to manually guide your muscles into places you can’t reach by yourself, all while the rest of your body remains relaxed. In addition to improving posture and mobility, assisted stretching can have positive effects on other important aspects of your health care.

By combining stretching with other treatment methods, such as physical therapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture, you’ll notice long-term benefits in a shorter time span. Here’s how it works:

Physical therapy As we mentioned, assisted stretching is the best way to improve flexibility and range of motion, two areas that are often compromised when someone has suffered an injury. By adding stretching to your physical therapy care at our partner,  Advanced Health Professionals (AHP) , you’ll help increase your recovery time and get the most from your therapy to reach peak performance.

Chiropractic  Assisted stretching helps improve mobility of everything from the spine to muscles to nerves. By loosening tight fascia through stretching, you make it easier for a chiropractor to manipulate the areas that still need help. Plus, you’ll improve your posture and blood flow in the process. Our professional chiropractic doctors will help assist you with essential stretches to practice both in the office and at home.

Kinesio Taping Another helpful pain relief method is Kinesio taping, which is also practiced at AHP. Utilizing a type of hypoallergenic, therapeutic tape, this method lifts the skin to encourage healing and lymphatic drainage, in turn decreasing inflammation and pain. A study in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies found that using  kinesio taping and stretching before exercise may lessen muscle soreness.

Myofascial Cupping The goal of myofascial cupping (which is also practiced at AHP) is to pinpoint pain triggers and release tight fascia, thereby reducing pain. The pressurized cups used in this technique combine stretching with massage to increase the movement of fluid, blood, and tissues closer to the skin.

Massage Assisted stretching and massage pretty much go hand in hand. The massage therapists at  Advanced Health Professionals are trained to not only provide a relaxing release of tight deep tissues, but to also assist their clients in stretching out spots that are likely triggering their pain.

Post Rehab Exercise Program Also known as PREP , this targeted approach to training bridges the gap between physical therapy and personal training to jump start a new exercise regime. Its goal: to target the entire body and improve form and function. Since stretching is vital, your PREP trainer will teach proper stretching techniques to help you get the most out of your routine.

Acupuncture Combining acupuncture with stretching is a sure-fire way to bust pain, especially if it’s in your neck, found researchers of a study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine. Acupuncture can also assist in stretching by helping to improve blood flow and reduce trigger point pain, increasing your range of motion.

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