Greetings
Our Physiotherapy Services will continue throughout the summer months with evening and weekend appointments.
Physiotherapy Services are available:
Mon/Wed/Fri 8am-6pm
Tues/Thurs 8am- 8pm
Saturday 10am-2pm
We have added some new classes to our Pilates studio to help you get and stay active this summer. Please see our new Class Schedule.
The pre and post natal Pilates will continue over 8 weeks on Thursdays from 5:30-6:15pm June 13-August 4th. There is a maximum of 6 participants.
Classes continue to be well attended so please reserve your spot in advance, and give us 24 hours notice of cancellation. We will try to make sure all classes continue during the summer, but if a class is cancelled for any reason we will post it in advance on the noticeboard and call to inform participants that have signed in.
We have recently added over 60 new articles to our patient resource library including the following:
Patient Guides:
We hope you enjoy our feature article about stretching (we all could use a little more!). Have a great summer!
Your Skye Physiotherapists,
Kubet, Cheryl and Jenna
Static versus Dynamic Stretching
Stretching is extremely important for anyone who exercises regularly or participates in sports. Stretching also plays a central role in physiotherapy treatment for muscle strains and pulls, as well as other musculoskeletal injuries.
But are all stretches created equal?
Are the stretches that help prevent injuries the same ones that can help treat them?
Preventing Injuries
There are a number of different types of stretching exercises that can help reduce the risk of injury as well as improve overall athletic performance [1]. Two of the most common are known as static and dynamic stretching.
Static stretching involves reaching as far as you can in one direction and then holding the stretch for 15-60 seconds [2], with 30 seconds being most effective with hamstrings for example [3]. This type of stretching is used to increase the length of the soft tissue and the flexibility of your muscles. Example: touching your toes and holding it.
Dynamic stretching involves a series of movements that work more than one muscle at a time. These stretches utilize controlled body movements like arm and leg swings to gently take you to the limits of your range of motion [4]. They do not involve any bouncing or any jerky movements. Example: moving your arm and shoulder in big circles.
For years static stretching was a mainstay in athletic warm-ups because it was thought to prevent injuries and enhance performance. However, new research has shown that dynamic stretching is much better suited for this task since it increases your core body and muscle temperature, elongates your muscles and stimulates your nervous system to prepare for the responsiveness that your sport demands [1].
Studies comparing static versus dynamic stretching in pre-athletic warm-ups have shown that dynamic stretching helps prevent injuries and boosts performance better than static stretching [5, 6]. In fact, doing static stretches before a big game or key practice session may actually decrease athletic performance for at least an hour afterward by reducing leg strength and power [7, 8].
Static stretching should still be an important part of your training routine, just not before you workout or play a sport. Instead, static-type stretches should be part of an effective cool-down routine following your game or training since they help relax muscles, realign muscle fibers, cool your body temperature and increase flexibility [9].
Treating Injuries
When muscles are injured, static stretching has been shown to be an important and effective part of rehab. Hamstring injuries are a common athletic injury treated by physiotherapists and require an extended, individualized, well-planned rehabilitation program [10]. Static stretching plays a major part in these programs because it increases muscle flexibility and relieves pain caused by muscle stiffness [11]. In a clinical trial of 80 athletes with hamstring injuries, those who did a more intense static stretching program took significantly less time to regain their full range of motion [12]. It is important to remember, though, that aggressively stretching an injured muscle will only make things worse, so it is important to wait at least 72 hours before starting gentle stretching exercises.
Even if you haven't reached the point of injury yet, adults with tight hamstrings also get good results from static stretching. Researchers have reported that static stretching is twice as effective as dynamic stretching for increasing flexibility in non-competitive athletes with tight hamstrings [13].
The Bottom Line
Dynamic stretches are best used as a warm-up before exercise or a sport to prevent injury and boost performance. They are not helpful when your muscles are already stiff or injured.
Static stretches maximize flexibility and are best used as part of a cool down following physical activity. They also should be used as part of a physiotherapy treatment program for specific muscle injuries.
For more information and advice about developing a stretching program that fits your needs and exercise routine, contact one of the licensed, trained physiotherapists at SKYE HEALTH. They will make sure you know what type of stretches to do and how to do them correctly in order to gain the maximum benefits.
References:
1. Frederick GA, Szymanski DJ. Baseball (part 1): dynamic flexibility. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 2001;23(1):21-30.
2. American College of Sports Medicine. Position Stand. The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardio respiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 Jun;30(6):975-91.
3. Bandy WD, Irion JM. The effect of time on static stretch on the flexibility of the hamstring muscles. Phys Ther. 1994 Sep;74(9):845-50.
4. Thacker SB, Gilchrist J, Stroup DF, Kimsey CD Jr. The impact of stretching on sports injury risk: A systematic review of the literature. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36(3):371-378.
5. Mann D, Jones M. Guidelines to the implementation of a dynamic stretching routine. Strength Cond J. 1999;21(6):53-55.
6. McMillian DJ, Moore JH, Hatler BS, Taylor DC. Dynamic vs. static-stretching warm up: the effect on power and agility performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2006;20(3):492-499.
7. Fowles JR, Sale DG, MacDougall JD. Reduced strength after passive stretch of the human plantar flexors. J Appl Physiol. 2000;89(3):1179-1188.
8. Fletcher IM, Anness R. The acute effects of combined static and dynamic stretch protocols on fifty-meter sprint performance in track-and-field athletes. J Strength Cond Res. 2007;21(3):784-787.
9. Boyle M. Functional Training for Sports. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2004.
10. Wiktorsson-Moller M, Orberg B, Ekstrand J, Gillquist J. Effects of warming up, massage, and stretching on range of motion and muscle strength in the lower extremity. Am J Sports Med. 1983;11:249-252.
11. Shrier I. Stretching before exercise does not reduce the risk of local muscle injury: a critical review of the clinical and basic science literature. Clin J Sport Med. 1999;4:221-227.
12. Malliaropoulos N, Papalexandris S, Papalada A, Papacostas E. The role of stretching in rehabilitation of hamstring injuries: 80 athletes follow-up. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36(5):756-759.
13. Bandy WD, Irion JM, Briggler M. The effect of static stretch and dynamic range of motion training on the flexibility of the hamstring muscles. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1998;27(4):295-300.