Why Stretching Is Not Working

Have you ever been told to keep stretching but it doesn’t seem to help?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

If you have been told to stretch regularly and this will be the solution to your pain or tightness, yet things have not improved … keep reading!

It is important to understand how muscles and tissues work. After any injury (big or small), new collagen fibers lay down to help protect the injured site.

Unfortunately, collagen is rope-like and can cause tightness around our muscles.

Without breaking up those tight fibers the tightness can persist!

Stretching over and over again will only pull on tight tissues and can even cause more pain and inflammation.

Tissues can also become restricted without an injury!!! Like most of us, we are sitting all day long which can cause significant tightness in the muscles and tissues. Overtime, our body forms to this new position – sometimes looking like a cashew.

So what is the solution?

Melt it

Mold it

Move it

Melting it: Heat can increase the hydration and blood flow to a tight area, allowing it to be more pliable. More pliable tissue is easier to manipulate and stretch. If you love to use ice, this could be causing more harm than good – check out this blog on heat vs. ice.

Mold it: After the tissues have been heated up, use a ball, roller, or your hands. This will help to break up tightness within the tissues. Professionals that specialize in body work and joint manipulation are your best option!

Move it: After you have melted and molded the tissues, its time to move!! This does not mean stretch in one place for 30 seconds, but rather dynamically move your body.

Let us know if you have more questions or want to know some cool dynamic stretches!