In a wellness landscape filled with trends, Stretch Zone is leaning into something measurable. As conversations around investing often focus on portfolios and property, this story highlights another asset—your own mobility. Structured recovery is an investment in how you move today and how you live tomorrow.
The practitioner-assisted stretching brand, with more than 420 locations across the United States and Canada, recently released what it calls an industry-first research study examining the impact of its standardized stretching program. The findings were published in the Journal of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Treatment and outline measurable improvements in mobility, energy, sleep and overall quality of life.
For residents across the Somerset Hills area—including Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Bedminster and Bridgewater—where busy professionals, commuters and active families balance packed schedules, the data offers insight into how structured recovery may support everyday movement.
The Stretch Zone Effect
The study, titled “The Stretch Zone Effect,” evaluated 32 adults over a 30-day period. Participants were new to the Stretch Zone method and did not engage in additional stretching outside of the program. Researchers analyzed outcomes based on frequency—once versus two to three times per week—and session length of 30 minutes versus 60 minutes.
According to the company, 78% of participants reported a reduction in pain, tension and discomfort. Sixty-six percent say they experienced higher energy levels and reduced fatigue, while 58% report improved sleep. Eighty-five percent demonstrated improved range of motion, and 61% noted greater ease in daily activities such as bending, lifting and walking.
Participants who attended two to three sessions per week saw 25% greater gains in flexibility, reinforcing what researchers describe as a “dose effect.” Those completing two 60-minute sessions weekly experienced the most significant improvements in trunk, hip and shoulder mobility. On average, participants improved back flexion by 8 to 11 degrees.
“These numbers translate into bending to tie a shoe, turning to check a blind spot or walking up stairs without discomfort,” says Tony Zaccario, president and CEO of Stretch Zone, in a statement announcing the findings. “It reflects not just improved movement but restored ability to fully participate in life.”
How It Works
Stretch Zone’s model differs from traditional stretching classes or self-guided routines. During sessions, trained practitioners guide clients through a series of targeted stretches using a patented strapping system designed to stabilize and isolate muscle groups.
The method is rooted in principles of neuromuscular behavior, with practitioners positioning and manipulating muscles to increase range of motion while minimizing strain. Sessions are tailored to the individual, whether the goal is athletic performance, injury recovery support or general mobility.
While anecdotal feedback has long fueled the brand’s growth, company leaders say the study provides independent validation.
“We’ve always known anecdotally that we were changing lives at Stretch Zone from the abundance of feedback we’ve received from our members over the years,” Zaccario says. “Now this new research proves just how powerful our approach is.”
Local Leadership and Experience
The Somerset Hills studio is led by Managing Principal and Owner Ray Kalustyan, who says his own recovery journey following an injury introduced him to practitioner-assisted stretching and changed his long-term approach to mobility and wellness. Studio manager Idalis Alicea and the practitioner team work with clients across age groups and activity levels, providing customized stretch programs designed to support flexibility, recovery and daily function.
A Local Invitation
To celebrate the research release, Stretch Zone studios nationwide—including the Somerset Hills area location—will host a grand reopening-style community event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 21. Residents are invited to visit their local studio, learn about the Stretch Zone method and experience practitioner-assisted stretching firsthand.
Founded in 2004 by Jorden Gold, Stretch Zone has expanded rapidly, earning spots on the Inc. 5000 and Franchise Times Top 400 lists. The brand’s continued growth reflects increasing consumer interest in recovery, preventative wellness and functional mobility.
For Somerset Hills area residents navigating long workdays, golf rounds, youth sports sidelines and weekend hikes, mobility often becomes the foundation that supports everything else.
If the findings from “The Stretch Zone Effect” are any indication, structured stretching may offer more than temporary relief. It may provide measurable gains in how people move—and how they live.
Learn more at stretchzone.com/locations/bedminster-nj.