What is Active Isolated Stretching?
Active Isolated Stretching (AIS): The Mattes Method is a scientific stretching method developed by Aaron L. Mattes. It is a manual technique that combines a series of short, controlled stretches with intervals of relaxation, which overrides your muscles tendency to contract when stretched tight. If you suffer from neck, back, shoulder, hip or knee pain or stiffness, active isolated stretching is a safe solution that offers tremendous relief quickly. When the body starts moving and working properly, pain symptoms often go away. In addition to learning how to stretch for a life-time of physical health, active isolated stretching benefits you with increased circulation, reduced risk of injury, improved posture, greater muscle strength, faster healing times, relaxed muscles and increased muscle potential. active isolated stretching has been used by thousands of professional and amateur athletes to increase flexibility and performance while reducing the risk of injury.
How Does it Work? The opposite muscle being stretch contracts (in order to stretch the hamstrings the quads must contract). Once the muscle is at its full range a gentle stretch is held for no longer then 2 seconds, released and controlled back to the starting position. This ensures a continuous supply of blood, oxygen, lymph, and nutrition, while stimulating waste removal and enforcing the neural process. This process is repeated on the same isolated muscle up to 10 times, with each subsequent stretch a few degrees of motion is gained. There is also a set sequence, in order to open up the hamstrings the calf muscles must be opened first…and so on…You will exhale during exertion (the stretching) and inhale during the recovery phase. Oxygen is an important fuel for muscle action.