Facilitated Stretching
Facilitated Stretching involves stretching a muscle, then having your client contract that muscle with 10 - 20% of their strength for 10 seconds. After that 10 seconds your client tries to stretch the muscle further, and you assist at the end of the stretch. This method of stretching utilizes two physiological principles:
Post Isometric Relaxation - The muscle is fatigued after contracting for 10 seconds, so it can stretch further.
Reciprocal Inhibition - When the client tries to stretch the muscle they are using the antagonist, which will neurologically inhibit the muscle being stretched, allowing it to stretch further.
