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Move Better, Feel Better

Oak Hill Stretchlab owner John Smart explains the benefits of getting stretched

What is assisted stretching?

We use a technique called physical neuromuscular facilitation, or PNF, to stretch people one-on-one using a tension scale of zero to ten. Zero is when you’re sitting there and can’t feel anything, and ten is when it feels like your arm is going to pop out of your socket. Ideally, we want you at a five. 

How does it work?

Let's say that our trained flexologists are stretching your hamstring. We'll hold you in a stretch for seven or eight counts, then ask you to press back against the flex just for three counts. You'll take a breath in and, as you exhale, you go even deeper. We're actually tricking your brain into letting you stretch further.

Who is it for?

The beauty of assisted stretching is that it’s for everyone, from your 14-year-old student-athlete to your 92-year-old grandma looking for more mobility. We work in tandem with modalities like acupuncture, chiropractors, and physical therapists, but we’re not acute care, so if you have an injury we require a note from your doctor to make sure you’re medically cleared. Some people even prefer us to physical therapy because we do all the work!

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