TDR Academy of Movement and Therapy

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Do You Stretch? Simple Question - Right?

☺️ My office on Saturday past….to continue with more cpd with a sea view - good for the soul.

The knowledge journey is never ending as we can never know it all…its all a learning journey that helps us with work, rest and play.

Whilst listening to a podcast on neurodynamics, and reflecting on the many conversations i have in the clinic and in classes, and the myths that are sometimes spread on social media in response to fads and/or to 1 research study on 17 people for example (so of course this applies to everyone and everything 🤦‍♀️) that the take away points are often misled in a person’s personal situation.🤷‍♀️

I have studied for many years and fads come and go and research that says one thing, well if you keep reading you will find another research study that says the opposite! It makes it hard for people to discern what to do and what not to do.🤷‍♂️

I’m a believer that you do what works, and self experimenting under the advice of someone that is qualified, experienced and well researched is key, and that also practices what they preach for realism!✋

I try to do all of this to give my version of best advice and offer best practice.👌

So it got me thinking, as self relection is something i’ve always done (and I always advise!):

❓Do you stretch?

❓ Do you know when to stretch?

❓ Do you know why you stretch?

❓ Do you know what tissues you are stretching?

❓ Do you know there are many different methods of how to stretch?

❓ Do you know how long to hold stretches for or what to feel, to know if you are ‘doing it right’?

❓ Do you know what bodily factors can assist or hinder stretching?

❓ Do you know what other modalities can aid stretching to be more or less effective?

❓ Do you know that specific stretching methods can have different effects on different tissues and on different injuries and medical conditions?

❓ Do you when stretching is safe and not safe to do?

❓ Do you know that there are different suggestions for different sports, daily activities, hobbies, injuries, medical conditions, rehab, selfcare, yoga, Pilates, fitness, warm ups and cool downs?

Alot of questions, as stretching ain’t as simple as it first seems.🆘

✳️ Skin, fascia/connective tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, bone lengths, joints shapes, fatty tissues, nerves are all impacted by stretching and can have an impact on its success.

✅ The American College of Sports Medicine have recommended that we should stretch 6 days a week, would you know what to do?

Multifaceted for sure!

So when i ask you, or you ask yourself if you stretch, think about your answer. You now have an idea if I go quiet, what questions I want to ask you - and thats just the tip of the iceberg!! And then I ask gently!😬

Hope it’s made you think!

If you want to learn more - why not book a 1:1 with Tanya or join a class online or in studio.

Tanya 😊