Dooley Noted: 8/7/2014
Many patients come to my office because they have constant muscle tightness.
The conversation happens like this:
Patient: “I don’t understand why I am always tight.”
Dooley; “Do you stretch?”
Patient: “Yes, all the time.”
Dooley: “Does it help?”
Patient; “For a moment, and then it comes back again.”
Dooley: “What if that tightness is functional?”
Stretching when something is tight may not be the answer.
If tightness is not resolved by the stretch, then maybe you’re bringing a stretch to a stability problem.
This is like peddling downhill.
You’ve done this.
As you went downward, you tried to peddle. But it didn’t make you go faster. It didn’t do anything helpful at all, really.
It seems like a good idea. But nothing gets done.
Muscles can get tight when they are attempting to create stability for surrounding structures.
So, stretching the stabilizing structures makes very little sense. It’s also largely ineffective.
Stretching is not always the wrong thing to do. But if those structures are stabilizing for you, stretching what is tight is absolutely like peddling downhill.
If this reads like a problem you have, do yourself a favor.
Get assessed.
Stabilize what needs stability. Then the functional tightness will finally have permission to relax.
Or, continue to waste time peddling downhill.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley