One of the newer trends out there are facilities who specialize in assisted stretching-which will in theory help to loosen acute or chronically tight muscles in a way an individual cannot do on their own. On the surface I have nothing against anyone seeking out additional help in loosening tight muscles, but I have concerns about utilizing individuals who work for companies without proper training.
In most cases when patients come to my office with chronically tight and stiff muscles, they usually tell me that massage helps, but sometimes the tension remains. As a practitioner this is an indication that the source of the stiff/tight muscles isn’t being addressed. Common causes of muscles that stay stiff are poor posture, low Magnesium, ill fitting pillow/mattress, stress, lack of sleep, and weakness in areas around the spine that support normal movement and posture.
There are only a few types of practitioners that I would trust to stretch chronically tight muscles-and this in large part due to the amount of training and experience they have. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists (where state law allows them to stretch clients), chiropractors, or athletic trainers. The above specialties all require hundreds if not thousands of hours of training, in addition to board examinations to do their job. Also, these professions are licensed by the state and require ongoing continuing education.
Another issue that arises is just because a muscle is tight, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to stretch or over-stretch that muscle. Often times the muscle tension is compensating for something else going on. A good example would be a herniated disc in the lower back. When these patients present to my office acutely, they are bent over sideways and the last thing they need is stretching. Furthermore, even after a week or two when the back spasms have subsided, if persistent tightness remains- stretching them the wrong way to address this may send them back into spasm.
When it comes to this type of intervention into the musculoskeletal system great care must be taken to get at the root of the muscle tension and have a properly trained and experienced individual working on you. I have spoken to multiple chiropractors, two physical therapists, a massage therapist, and an occupational therapist who all say that this practice has the potential to go sideways quickly.
Things to look out for, if you do decide to go, are:
Is an initial history taken to rule out contraindications prior to starting?
How much training goes into a person performing assisted stretching?
Are they licensed by the state?
How much Continuing education must a person undergo on a yearly basis?
Do they have protocols in place in case someone is stretched too far and has a poor reaction from the stretching?
When in doubt always trust your gut concerning who works on you and have a plan of what to do next if this therapy isn’t effective for you.