Stretch Therapy and Mobility Work: Why It Isn’t Just Stretching

When you hear the term “stretching,” you likely think about holding the position of bending forward to touch your toes for 30 seconds to a minute. Or maybe performing a lunge hold a few times before going for a run. While these moves have a time and place, and are quite beneficial, assisted stretch therapy and mobility work go much further than the traditional flexibility we often refer to. 

At Carpe Diem Chiropractic, we carefully assess how your muscles and joints work together with your nervous system to allow you to move in a way that is both comfortable and effective for your body. Assisted stretching and mobility can both be a vital part of this process. 

Flexibility vs. Mobility

The terms flexibility and mobility are most often used synonymously; however, they are vastly different.

Flexibility is how well a person’s muscles can lengthen. For instance, when you bend your head to one side, how close your ear can get to your shoulder tells how much flexibility there is in your neck muscles. 

Mobility is how well your joints can move through the range of motion with both comfortability and control. 

A person can have plenty of flexibility without having the strength or proper joint movement to move through that allowed range of motion. 

What Is Stretch Therapy?

This therapy is targeted to helping a person move better. Instead of 30 second holds of a stretch, a stretch therapist can assist in moving the body in different ways to decrease restricted movement. This passive technique allows a person to relax their body and removes the aspect of contracting their muscles so the therapist can push deeper into the stretch. 

A stretch therapist can also assist in providing joint mobility exercises and breathing techniques. 

Due to the guided nature of these stretches, they can be altered based on any limitations or goals of the patient. 

Losing Mobility

Loss in mobility can happen to anyone of any age and activity level. 

People who work at desks, use their phones consistently, drive long distances, or have a job that requires repetitive movements can all suffer from stiffness and restriction. 

After a while, movements that used to be performed seamlessly can become more difficult. Tight hips from constant sitting, restricted shoulders when reaching for something on a top shelf, among other issues, may become more apparent after long periods of constant repetition. 

These specific areas are not always the only ones affected either. Certain regions of the body can find ways to compensate when others aren’t moving well. 

Is Stretching the Answer?

Before we start Googling stretches for an area, it is important to figure out why the area is tight in the first place. 

Just because one region feels tight, restriction in another area might be the cause of why that specific region is not moving efficiently.

An example would be feeling tightness in one shoulder that is due to restrictions stemming from the neck that have been progressing from years of consistent phone use. 

Constantly stretching the affected shoulder could provide temporary relief, but it will always come back until the poor movement patterns are addressed. 

Stretch Therapy and Chiropractic Care 

The musculoskeletal system is the primary focus in Chiropractic; this means that tissues and joints are assessed for how well they can move and function – which can improve tenfold by adding stretch therapy and mobility. 

Based on needs, they might both be added to a patients individualized care plan, along with any other therapies that might support the process of healing. 

At Carpe Diem Chiropractic, our goal is to help people move better so they can get back to doing what they love to do, pain free.

If you are ready to feel better and move better, contact us to learn more information about all the therapies we provide in our office and how they may benefit you.