Grumpy says stretch

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By Brent Kassian, BScPT, MCPA, MCPTA

Gumby and his little pony friend cranked out the classic little green man show year after year.  Even more amazing than the record episode numbers, was how the clay slab managed to take away his neighbor’s piano, free himself from being a blockheaded slave, and stopped evil zombie robots from wrecking his yard and house:  all without his back or shoulders seizing up!  What was his secret?  In a word, stretching.

Good Grumpy Flex

As silly as the Gumby replica toy looked, you remember how you were able to twist him into all kind of contorted shapes without him screaming.  Regular stretching makes our pink fleshy muscles more flexible and less prone to injury.  Often, when muscles have been worked hard or if the only training they have had has been dashing from the remote to the refrigerator, they tend to seize up worse than an old 76’ Vega aluminum block.  Seized up muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles not only put more pressure on your joints which can produce aches and pains, but they are susceptible to getting wham-o-ed when you are replaying the Labour Day Classic at the neighborhood park.  Stretching your tight muscles reduces the tension and brings them back to a relaxed happy Gumby state so they can better handle unexpected accelerations or decelerations. 

Good Grumpy Posture

Stretching can also improve our un-Gumby like postures.  While we are all born with unbelievable toe-in-the-mouth flexibility as babies, most of us go on to have a hard time to bend over to touch our ankles.  What gives?  Most of us don’t bother to do any flexibility stuff when as we get older.  Except the lady on the yoga channel, or maybe ballet dancers or gymnasts, who do you know who stretches on a daily basis?  Guys or gals with flexible muscles, and flexible joints, not only look better, but they feel better when they either exercise or rest. 

Good Grumpy Tips

What ever your sport or activity, it is important to make sure you take some time out for stretching. Here are a few helpful tips:

Stretch After Warm-Up.  Try not to stretch on cold muscles because you may damage them further if they are already sore and injured

Stretch Without Bouncing.  The best stretches are slow and gentle, never bouncy or jerky.  Stretch gradually to the where you can feel the tension but not excruciating pain. 

      Stretch As You Like.  There are a million different stretching exercises today and most gyms have walls plastered with them.  Find a routine that works for you.

Don’t Be Pokey

There’s no telling what kind of trouble Gumby and his buds will get into in the upcoming millenium. But rest assured, it won’t be flexibility problems!  If you find that you are having nagging pain with your back, quads, or hamstrings that stretching doesn’t seem to alleviate, don’t be pokey in getting a hold of your favorite physical therapist for further diagnosis and help.

Brent Kassian, BScPT, MCPA, MCPTA Executive Director Capilano Rehab Centre

phone:  466-1104 check out their groovy website @ www. caprehab.com