Stretching is something carried out regularly by human athletes before they take part in physical activity. It is thought that stretching helps to improve flexibility, relieve pain, prevent injury and improve performance. Flexibility is important because it is what determines the range of motion (ROM) within a joint; flexibility is required if we are going to be able to move well. For example, imagine what it would be like to walk (or run!) if we were not able to move our hips, knees or ankles though their full ROM? Try it- what happens to your stride length? Are you able to get very far? The answer is probably no and it is the same for our animals. We need to support our animals as much as we can to improve and/or maintain their flexibility so that they can move as freely as possible and stretching is one way this can be achieved.
In August’s ‘Perfect Gait’s VIPs’ (the members area of our website) we will be focusing on baited stretches. In preparation for this focus, I thought it would be a good idea to provide a bit of background information on the types of stretches we can use with our animals to improve and maintain flexibility.
Passive range of motion (PROM) stretches
These are stretches which ‘are done’ to the animal. As the name suggests, the animal is passive. These types of stretches can be used to make initial assessments about an animal's static flexibility- how far a joint or series of joints can move through their ROM when they are not actively engaged in an activity. Examples of these type of stretches might be stretches of the limbs. Static flexibility or PROM can be measured with a tool called a goniometer, which measures the amount of joint movement in degrees. These types of stretches can also increase static flexibility; the ROM through which the joint or joints can move increases after stretching has taken place. It is really important that joints aren’t taken beyond their ‘end feel’ during a passive stretch, which means stretches shouldn’t be taken too far. Passive stretches should only be carried out by those who are confident and understand the anatomy involved in the stretch.
Active range of motion stretches
These are stretches which are carried out dynamically. Movements are carried out which take a joint, or series of joints, through their ROM to either measure or increase the dynamic flexibility. Again, these types of stretches can be carried out to assess how far an animal can actively move through their range, as well as being used to help improve and increase the range. Baited stretches fit into this category of stretch as they are dynamic and the animal ‘actively’ takes part in the stretch.
Reflex stretches
You may have seen your vet physio use these to encourage spinal and pelvic movement in your horse or pony (they are not as commonly used with dogs). Reflex stretches (as the name suggests!) stimulate a reflex response which activates the stretch. They can be used during assessment to evaluate current ROM within the spinal and pelvic joints, as a form of treatment to help improve ROM by achieving a little more movement each time the stretch is carried out, and again at the end of a treatment session to evaluate improvements.
Although research evidences that all of the above stretches can help to reduce pain, prevent injury, improve flexibility and enhance performance, if carried out incorrectly or to injured parts of the anatomy, they can cause problems. Therefore, it is always better to work with your vet or vet physio who can guide you in what stretches are most appropriate for your animal, when they should be carried out and the frequency. If you would like to find out more about baited stretches, our members section of the website will be launched on 1st August 2022 and will include baited stretches as a focus this month. If you want to find out more about stretching in general, what impact it has on a cellular level and how this can improve flexibility and performance, while reducing pain and potential for injury, September’s members’ section will be focusing on what the scientific research tells us about stretching, to help you better understand when and how you can use it to help your horse or dog.
Look at the two examples of stretches below. What type of stretch are they?
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