Have anyone read this book? Jamirok?
http://www.humankinetics.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=0736062483
I’ve an old book of McAtee…but I like Stretch to win, much complete and interesting (imo the best on the market today).
Can you provide a quick explanation why you feel it’s the best? I’m in the market for a solid book on the topic and would appreciate your input.
Thanks
GO SPARTANS!
Essentially because Ann Fredericks speaks about:
- PNF
- rotational component
- myofascial plane
- breathing during stretching and not counting time
- trigger point
- organizated approach to stretching
- quick flexibility assesment
- slow and quick stretch
- core stretch
- tractions
and much more…
The book is full of informations, and you have to read it much time!
McAtee (I’ve not the new edition) is basically PNF stretch.
If you have a few experience with flexibility, PIR/CR/CRAC stretches aren’t a rocket science.
Stretch to win with others few books (deep tissue massage DVD/book art riggs and acupressure warmup - marc coseo) can be a great way for self treatments.
A foam roller and a theracane or other tools for erase TP can complete the scenario.
I agree that Stretch to Win is probably the best single source of info. But I also think the 3rd edition of Facilitated Stretching is a good supplement. I have all three editions and each one really is a significant improvement on the previous one. The 3rd edition comes with a demo DVD and covers more information regarding integrating PNF stretching with other therapy techniques. They’re both pretty inexpensive (at least in the US), so I would recommend both books.
Thank you both. I’ve read a number of articles on PNF stretching and use it when I can on my collegiate athletes. Like many other colleges the sport med department is undertrained, under staffed and sometimes extremely teritorial so athletes can’t get the treatment or restorative assistance they need. So again I try to do it myself or at least provide my athletes with some skills to assist each other. It amazes me how coaches and trainers oversimplify stretching not know how much correct stretching can save the athlete time, money and maximize training sessions. I shouldn’t completely exclude myslef from such a group 
, however, I’ve been making strides in this area…Anyway just ordered Stretch to Win and once I get through it a couple of times I’ll look into acquiring Facilitated Stretching.
Thanks again
Thanks for your input guys! I heading to book fair to get a copy of Facilitated Stretching.
Anyway, I think we need to re-define ‘stretching’ ---- it seems, lately, that stretching is more than just improving statical/dynamical flexibility… it has more to do with recoveryregeneration, tissue quality maintenance etc
Agreed! I’ve read research examined pre and post ROM following different stretch protocols. I haven’t come across work that really looked into fascial & muscle quality or state following extensive use of various methods. Can anyone povide any references for such research thanks. A redefinition of stretching is definitely in order.
I don’t know of any references off hand, but when I took Guy Voyer’s myofascial stretching course he emphasized that the purpose of stretching was to improve articulation, not length per se.
Tomas Kurz’s work is worth reading
Are you serious? Stretching scientifically?
Improve articulation? Can you expand?
Guy’s approach is to determine all of the actions of a particular muscle, which is usually much more than people realize. To stretch the muscle you simply perform all of the counter-actions of that muscle simultaneously. The goal is not to emphasize any one of the actions more than the others.
Because most muscles exert several actions in different planes of motion, however subtle, performing all of the corresponding counter-actions simultaneously often results in a stretch position that does not entail large ROM around the joint in any one direction. Anchoring the fascial chain through proper hand/arm and foot/leg position will also limit ROM in the stretch position. However, the simultaneous tension in all of the directions of motion of the muscle produces more even tension throughout the whole muscle, which releases the tissue more effectively than trying to achieve extreme ROM in any one direction of movement, not to mention reduced stress on the joint capsule.
What!!! My university isn’t like that. As the strength coach, I have a great relationship with my highly trained, professional and effective physio/training staff. 
Of course, I also heavily rely on SARCASM as my primary form of humour.
Stretch to Win is good because it covers a lot and is a system.
I think though that Gray Cook’s work is the best and easiest to use system to:
make sure that you are movement healthy
test your programs to see if they hurt or help you
restore your movement patterns