


I’ve already covered that in my stretchlab review, which I recommend you read.Īs a whole, the stretch zone is a fitness franchise that specializes in practitioner-assisted stretching. NOTE: I won’t cover here the details about the StretchLab studio. Two of the most popular studios include StretchLab and Stretch Zone. In case you’ve been living off-grid for the last couple of years, stretching franchises are the fastest-growing fitness trend. Stretch Zone uses a proprietary strap system that helps to stabilize the pelvis and isolate the specific muscle that you’re trying to stretch. Today I will explain what is Stretch Zone, how it works and why should you pay someone to help you stretch?Īs a whole, Stretch Zone is worth every penny for people who need to reduce their muscle tension and increase their range of motion, but don’t have the skills to do it on their own. “The person needs to be well-trained.Even though I actively stretch after every workout, I still decided to sign up for the Stretch Zone (and I didn’t have to think twice about it). “It’s the hands-on portion that gives me pause, especially when they’re going to the limits of soft-tissue mobility,” said Pabian, a board-certified orthopedic and sports specialist and peer reviewer for national journals. He said he’d feel more comfortable if stretch practitioners had rigorous educational requirements through an accredited program and were certified by a regional or national body. Patrick Pabian, program director in the doctor of physical therapy program at University of Central Florida, agrees that stretching increases mobility, and that’s positive.īut he cautions that someone without enough education could injure muscles, tendons, joints, spinal disks or nerves.

“It doesn’t have the recognition,” Nubaryan of The Stretching Room said. No specific licensing or accreditation is necessary to become a stretch practitioner, although the businesses say their employees are knowledgeable and trained. “Anybody can force you into a deep stretch, but that doesn’t mean you’d be doing it correctly.” “You want an experienced trainer to check your form,” Olsson said.
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Olsson cautioned that it’s important to learn from someone who can show the proper technique - how to push slowly one way, wait, push the opposite way and then push the first way again - to avoid injury. The “assisted” part can come from a partner, elastic bands or specially designed stretching machines. The practice is not considered therapy and is not covered by insurance.Įrik Olsson, wellness coordinator at the downtown Orlando YMCA, said trainers for years have been doing a version of what’s being called “assisted stretching.” The technical term is “proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.” The Stretching Room charges $200 per 90-minute visit. Stretch Zone offers memberships from $79 monthly to $279 for unlimited visits. The target market is a higher-income client, Morrill said. But they also offer only one service and can see a limited number of clients daily, with sessions running 30 to 90 minutes each. To their business advantage, stretch studios require little equipment or room. It’s too soon to know whether the trend will stick - think Tae Bo, step and Dancercise. “The assisted stretching is a whole different experience than when you’re in yoga or you’re stretching yourself,” said Fred Morrill, an operations director for Stretch Zone. Massage Envy, for example, uses something it calls the “Streto Method” that it says relaxes the mind and body. Highway 17-92 in Winter Park.Įach business offers a technique, usually patented, that it claims is superior. It plans to open soon at Lee Road and U.S. Stretch Zone, thought to be the largest stretch chain in the country, has expanded quickly in Central Florida since it opened its first studio here in Windermere in November 2016.įounded in 2004 in South Florida, it now has shops in Lake Mary and Oviedo.
