Bodywork that integrates intentional stretching with traditional massage techniques is generally called Assisted Stretching or Stretch Therapy. This approach is a collaborative process where the therapist actively guides and maneuvers the client’s body to achieve a greater range of motion and flexibility. It is a form of bodywork that directly targets physical restrictions limiting movement and posture. The core purpose of this focused work is to enhance the body’s freedom of movement and reduce stiffness.
Defining Assisted Stretching Techniques
In Assisted Stretching or Stretch Therapy sessions, a trained professional applies external force to gently move and stretch a client’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This allows for a deeper and more controlled stretch than a person could achieve on their own, which is a major benefit for improving flexibility and mobility.
Specific Protocols
This general category often incorporates specific, proven protocols like Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) or Active Isolated Stretching (AIS). PNF stretching combines an isometric muscle contraction against resistance, followed by a deeper stretch into the newly acquired range of motion. The goal of PNF is to relax the muscle’s natural protective contraction, known as the stretch reflex, allowing for immediate flexibility gains. Conversely, Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) involves rhythmically holding a stretch for only two seconds while the client actively contracts the opposing muscle group.
Named Systems Incorporating Stretching
Some established modalities are recognized for their intense focus on stretching as the primary component of the bodywork session.
Thai Massage
Thai Massage, also known as Nuad Thai, is a traditional system often described as “lazy yoga.” It is performed on a mat on the floor with the client fully clothed and uses the therapist’s hands, elbows, knees, and feet to guide the client through a series of yoga-like postures and rhythmic compressions. This approach is a complete form of bodywork that combines acupressure and passive stretching to enhance energy flow and promote deep tissue release.
Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST)
Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is a specific, modern, table-based modality that works to restore movement and balance throughout the body. FST focuses on the fascial lines and joint capsules, often employing gentle traction to decompress joints before performing stretches in specific planes of motion. The intent is to address the connective tissue that envelops muscles and nerves, rather than just the muscle belly itself. Unlike the general techniques of PNF or AIS, Thai Massage and FST are comprehensive, full-session systems of bodywork built around the stretching component.
The Physiological Rationale for Combined Work
Combining massage and stretching is effective because it simultaneously addresses both the muscular and the neurological components of restricted movement.
Muscular Preparation
Massage techniques manipulate the soft tissues, increasing blood circulation and delivering oxygen to the muscle fibers, which warms the tissue and makes it more pliable. This pre-manipulation of the muscle helps to physically prepare the tissues for lengthening, reducing stiffness and enhancing recovery.
Neurological Influence
The combination also directly influences the nervous system, which is the body’s control center for muscle tension. Stretching techniques like PNF work by stimulating mechanoreceptors, which are sensory nerves in the connective tissue that signal the central nervous system. This stimulation can lead to a changed regulation of muscle tone, allowing the muscle to relax more completely than it would with a simple, unassisted stretch. Focused work on the fascia, the continuous web of connective tissue, helps relieve built-up tension by encouraging fluid movement and restoring the tissue’s elasticity.
Preparing for a Stretch-Focused Session
Before attending a stretch-focused bodywork session, the client should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that allows for a full range of motion. Since many of these sessions involve active movement and stretching on a mat or table, clothing such as athletic shorts, yoga pants, or a t-shirt is appropriate.
Communication with the therapist is also important to ensure a productive and safe session. It is helpful to discuss any previous injuries, current pain points, and specific flexibility goals before the session begins. During the stretch, clients should expect to be an active participant in their own treatment, whether by actively contracting an opposing muscle or simply allowing the therapist to move them. It is important to maintain clear communication regarding comfort levels, as stretching should never be painful; any sensation should be a manageable depth of stretch.