Active vs Passive Stretching

Active vs Passive Stretching Many of you have asked me about the benefits of stretching. As I went through the MAT internship I learned more about what actually happens to the muscles as you do passive stretching as most people do. Passive stretching is when you force the muscle into position without using the muscle to actually get itself into position. This type of stretching typically shuts down the muscle. Another way to stretch is active stretching (my preference). Meaning you are moving the muscles into position yourself without an applied force. Does this all seem foreign to you? If so, you're not alone. I found this video that is a must see for anyone who stretches. The video explains activation of the muscle with the typical quadricep stretch. They use the rectus femoris which is one of your quadricep muscles as an example. Check it out! EMG on Rectus Femoris after Muscle Activation Techniques applied

Medill News Reports on MAT

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=178614&terms=stephanie%20turner

Vital Juice Chicago MAT Article

Great write up on Vital Juice Chicago!

http://vitaljuice.com/entry_detail/chicago/11412/Find_out_if_your_muscles_are_working_hard_or_hardly_working_with_this.htm

Muscle Activation and Running Injuries

As a former college athlete, I've been dealing with several nagging injuries ever since stepping off the field. Carryover injuries that were never treated properly the first time around kept me from exercising as much as I wanted and leading a healthy lifestyle as a result. True to form, while training for the Chicago and New York marathons last year, an old hip flexor injury came back with a vengeance to the point where I could barely walk, let alone continue to train and hope to race.

It looked like months of training were about to go down the drain, when I was referred to Steph for MAT work. I felt significant improvement literally within minutes of treatment and I walked out of the first session feeling pain-free for the first time in weeks. A little over a month later, I ran both marathons--no doubt impossible without Steph's help.

I definitely recommend Steph and her training to anyone dealing with recurring strains or sprains (whether a current or former athlete), or if you're just looking to stay in shape. Seriously, it works.

Thanks again Steph!

--Benjamin Swiss