THE EXPERIENCE: After a personal evaluation, including a kinetics scan of your body in motion, a trained assistant guides your body into stretches for different muscle groups.

WHO MIGHT BENEFIT:

• If you have stiffness or constricted muscle movement
• If you have muscle aches or imbalance
• If you need help stretching—knowledge and/or physical assistance
• Athletes looking for better range of motion

RESEARCH & REASONS TO BELIEVE:

• The effects of an active-assisted stretching program on functional performance in elderly persons: A pilot study
• Benefits of assisted stretching: 5 reasons to try a professional stretching session

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: My assisted stretching session was at StretchLAB. I met my consultant and spoke with him about any concerns or injuries, then I removed my shoes and put my items in the nook at the end of the table where I would be stretched. I walked to their MAPS 3D kinetics body scanning tool where I was given instructions on how to perform a squat in front of the machine. The consultant then explained the results of the MAPS scan.

Because it was my first stretch, he told me we would only be doing the basic stretch routine, but at a future time, the stretching session would be personalized to my MAPS results and my feedback from our initial consultation. Back at the table, he gave me instructions on how to position my body, when to relax, when to flex or contract different muscles; and when to breathe in, out and hold. He started with my legs and worked up to my neck.

When I was finished, I did feel more relaxed, and I noted that my muscles felt comfortingly warm. Personally, my calves are normally very tight—and they felt less stiff for the rest of the evening.

Also, that night and the next morning, I had a slight headache. Now, while that might seem like a bad thing, the headache was likely a detox headache from lactic acids and other stagnant energy being released from my tight muscles. So I see it as proof that it was helpful to my body.

TIPS & THINGS TO KNOW:

• You are required to wear socks with tread on them. If you already own some, you can just bring and use yours. If you don’t own some, you can buy some at most StretchLAB locations. You can also buy them online easily.
• The stretching level (or depth) is based on your perception. You will be asked to let your stretching assistant know when you’ve reached whatever level of stretch is advised depending on body part, concerns and/or preference. Don’t be shy about speaking up, especially if the stretch is too much.
• You will get a copy of the numbers from the MAPS scan, but you will not get the scan. This was disappointing to me since I wanted to compare it to my CORE scan from my chiropractor.
• The benefits of assisted stretching come from customized and repeat stretching. If you have a concern you want to target, be prepared to return a couple times a week.
• StretchLAB has group stretching if you want additional options for assisted stretching. I did not attend one of those sessions.

Personally, I’ve continue with assisted stretching, but using tools and extensive training from other modalities, which allow me to better tailor the stretches to my needs—muscle groups, time of stretch, and depth of stretch.