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On Active Stretching…
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In active stretching, one improves muscle flexibility by contracting the opposing muscle group while stretching the target muscle. In the case of the hamstrings, this means engaging the quadriceps during the stretch. Shirley Sahrmann, PhD (Professor of Physiotherapy at Washington University School of Medicine) and others have advocated active stretching as a means of increasing muscle flexibility. It improves flexibility of the muscles on one side of the joint while improving strength and function of the muscles on the other side.
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A recent article from the medical literature compared active vs. passive stretching of the hamstring muscles. The authors stated:
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“Such an active technique is based on reciprocal inhibition between agonistic and antagonistic muscles.”
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And concluded:
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“Active stretching produc...
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