Medical

Corrine Ward – Physiotherapist MCSP

Stretchworks is a holistic approach that encompasses developing strength, balance, flexibility, posture, and good breathing techniques. It uses fluid, functional movements to enhance body awareness using principals of control and centering without momentum. This practice can directly affect the participant’s awareness and ability to manage physical tension. It activates and conditions deep muscles, restoring and promoting postural strength. Stretchworks tones and elongates without adding bulk, and so enhances mobility and agility. This can culminate in alleviating pain and tension, and as such contribute to rehabilitation of injury, recovery from surgery, illness, or pregnancy.

Co-contraction of muscle groups and weight-bearing manoeuvres improves support and nutrition to the joints, and has positive effects on combatting osteoporosis. A combination of static and dynamic stretching also impacts on stress relief. It improves circulation and stimulates the receptors in the nervous system to reduce the production of stress hormones so that both emotional and physical tension are reduced significantly, thus contributing to the reduction of stress-related illness, recovery from injury and achieving personal optimum fitness.

Stretchworks is adaptable to all ages and abilities, whether a young athlete or an older person recovering from surgery, the uniqueness of stretchworks can be modified to suit the needs of the individual.