The Do's and Dont's of Stretching

Everyone has engaged in a stretching routine at one time or another and, yet, a lot of questions remain regarding proper technique. Here's a quick run down:

DON'T:

•  Perform static stretching before an activity (such as a runner's stretch, hamstring or quad stretch- where one position is held for a length of time). Static stretches elongate muscle fibers which can cause injury when done on "cold" muscles and can actually decrease your power and speed during the activity. Instead, do a warm up before your activity. For "work-out" type activities, such as running, using the elliptical, or lifting, try walking at a brisk pace a few minutes before the activity, slow lunges, or knee lifts with marching. If you're about to play a sport, practice movements that you will doing frequently during the activity, but in a slower, more controlled pace. This will prime your body to do these actions in a safe, technique-appropriate way during game time.
• Bounce with static stretches! As previously stated, static stretching elongates muscle fibers. If you bounce you're very likely to overstretch the muscle or even tear fibers. 
• Hold your breath. This is known as a val-salva maneuver to health professionals and can wreak havoc on your blood pressure as well as teach you bad habits that you then take into your work out or sport. You are never performing an activity to your true potential if you're holding your breath.

DO:

• Static stretching after your activity. No matter the activity, you just performed numerous contractions which has left your muscle tight and balled up. Even after the activity the muscle fibers remain in some amount of contraction, therefore, we need to elongate them to return them to their normal resting state. This will decrease the likelihood of muscle soreness or spasm. If you're in a time crunch, at least stretch the muscle groups you used most during your activity (ie quads after lunges)
• When performing your static activity, stop at a sensation of a comfortable stretch, NOT PAIN. Pain indicates, or may lead to, possible injury.
• Hold your stretch for 30-60 seconds. 
• Remember to always use good technique. If you're trying to stretch your hamstrings, be sure you're not actually stretching your back!

If you have any questions about stretching or have had repeated injury with your activity despite following these guidelines, see a physical therapist.

Lesley

How Yoga Wrecks Your Body

how yoga can wreck your body

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/how-yoga-can-wreck-your-body.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

In the adult body there are normally 206 bones. Depending on your definition of joints there are somewhere between 200 to over 300 joints in the adult body.  Given those numbers it’s safe to say that our bodies are built to move.

Movement is essential to maintaining a healthy pain free body. Equally important to health and pain free living is rest, good nutrition, and relaxation.  A balanced system is a healthy system. Sedentary jobs, inactivity, repetitive activity, injuries, trauma, sleeplessness, fatigue, mental and physical stress etc. are all factors that challenge our bodies ability to flow in and out of situations and remain healthy and pain free.
 "How Yoga can Wreck your Body" is an interesting article from the New York Times. It’s an easy to read story of  how an activity like yoga which is innocent, fun and healthy for many people can be or become harmful and even dangerous for others. This article could easily be titled “How running, tennis, baseball, volleyball, weight lifting, walking, or working as a grocery store checker wrecks your body.” Just because we enjoy something and it is touted as being healthy doesn’t mean it is always good for us.  Timing is everything.

We want our patients to move and be active.  However, not all activities are created equal and not all bodies are able to handle activities equally, especially if your experiencing pain.  Pain and dysfunction is a sign that something isn’t right, it’s our bodies way of saying “pay attention to me, I need help.”  
Enjoy,
Lori