Functional assessment and integrative manual therapy. It’s healthcare, for your muscles.

    Click here to book online

    Stretching 101

    Through-the-Doorway Pectoral Stretch

    1 Comment

    The pectorals are the largest chest muscles, and they tend to be tight on almost everyone, especially if you spend long hours at a computer.  This stretch can give you relief from upper back & neck pain, which are often sore due to the opposing pull of the pecs.  Simply position yourself in an open doorway, with your elbows bent to 90′ and at shoulder height, so that your forearms are resting along the frame with hands pointed toward the ceiling.  You can choose to stretch both sides at once, or relax one arm at a time .  Step ahead and lean through the door, keeping your arms in place, until you feel a comfortable stretch across the chest.  Hold the stretch for at least 30 seconds or until a release is felt.

    To enhance the stretch by targeting the slightly different fibre directions of the large pectoral muscles, repeat the stretch with your hands 1) lower, just above shoulder height on the door frame and 2) above your head on the door frame, high enough that your elbows are only slightly bent.

    V-Sit Adductor Stretch

    This stretch targets the muscles of the inner thigh, which can get tight if you’re in the habit of crossing your legs, or when there’s weakness of the muscles of the buttock.  To stretch them, simply sit with your legs straight in front of you, then open your legs into a V until you feel a stretch along the inner thigh.  Bend forward at the waist to bring your torso forward toward the ground between your legs.  You may feel a pull along the back of the thigh as well as you bend forward.  Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.

    Runner’s Lunge Hip Flexor Stretch

    An absolute must for runners and lovers of high-heels.  Stand with feet at hip width.  While the leg you want to stretch stays in place, take a large step forward with the opposite leg, bending the knee so that it is directly above the ankle.  Lower the back leg so the knee comes toward the ground, increasing the stretch across the front of the hip and thigh.  Keep your torso straight and your tailbone tucked, so that your hands or arms are resting on your forward leg.

    Standing Quadriceps Stretch

    Target the front of the thigh to relieve knee and low back pain.  Stand with feet just at hip width.  Bend the knee of the side you want to stretch so that your heel comes up toward your buttock.  Use a towel roll tucked behind the knee to open up the joint. Grasp the foot or ankle with the same-side hand, or use a belt or towel if you can’t reach.  If needed, rest your opposite hand on a table or chair to help maintain your balance throughout the stretch.

    Thread-the-Needle Piriformis Stretch

    This stretch is essential if you spend all day on your feet, or suffer from hip pain or sciatica.  Start in hook-lying position: on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.  On the side you want to stretch, turn your knee out, and cross your ankle across the opposite knee.   Reach the arm on the stretch side through the triangle space between your legs and hold behind the knee of the opposite leg with both hands. To increase the stretch, lift the opposite side foot off the ground and bring that knee toward your chest.

    Forward Bend Hamstrings Stretch

    A straight-leg forward bend does double duty as a stretch for both your hamstrings and your low back.  Start with your feet together or hip-width apart, knees slightly bent.  Bend forward at the waist until you feel a comfortable stretch along the back of your thighs.  Allow your belly to rest on your thighs to support your low back, and relax your neck. If possible, straighten, but don’t lock, your knees.  Allow your arms to dangle toward the floor.  Hold this position for 30 seconds to one minute.  To release the stretch, bend your knees and slowly roll up out of the forward bend.

     

    12

    Alycia Duff-Bergeron, Founder and Clinic Director

    When I opened Anatomica in 2013 as my private practice, I was committed to offering an unsurpassed level of service and care to every client.  Today I have the pleasure of working with a skillful team of therapists and administrative staff that are equally committed to raising the bar in their fields and providing exceptional treatment. Our therapists are dedicated, professional, and focused on your health. Anatomica proudly offers some of the most effective manual therapy and functional assessment techniques, performed by therapists with several years of practical experience, all of whom demonstrate a considerable effort to further their educations and understanding of current treatment protocols. We invite you to visit Anatomica to experience effective, personalized healthcare in an inclusive space, staffed by practitioners that are setting a new standard of professionalism. We are Anatomica. Welcome.

      Copyright © 2023 Anatomica. All rights reserved.