Myofascial stretching.

When I first started PE I built a mechanical stretcher which I wore in a hot bath and I gained a full one inch of length using this device in my first year.

I was reading about myofascial stretching ( the wikipedia page) and something struck me.

When I used the stretcher I would expand the device when warm in the bath, and the shaft would stretch tight. After a few minutes of gentle stroking/stretching the shaft along each side, the shaft would be lose enough to be able to stretch it a few more millimeters and repeat the process.

I would do this for twenty minutes or so each session as a friend was just beginning to study Bowen therapy and I applied some of what she was doing with tissues to release them from tension and trauma.

I’m not sure if this was what resulted in my growth, but I’m going to return to the mechanical stretcher as soon as my cold has passed, and apply this gentle stroking/stretching method once again.

Anyone have thoughts about this?

It’s called stress relaxation and used a lot in physiotherapy.

There a study linked somewhere that suggests it’s a much faster/more efficient way of lengthening than constant tension.
A couple of threads on static stretchers as well that might be relevant.

Any thoughts on this? Are you kidding?

I am your biggest fan and I have made your experience my MANTRA after you first mentioned it in one of my earlier threads!

I said even then your experience required more looking into. I am even basing my “loads of rest routine” on your experiences and do my whole routine from a hot bath.

I said it before and I’ll say it again, you are onto something and your technique needs to be looked into meticulously.

I’m going to return to the mechanical stretcher in the next few weeks with the intention of keeping notes and comparing with my first experiences with stretching and manipulation within the stretcher.

I don’t really understand how this is done (english are not my native language)

Is it like you are stretching hard for some seconds then release tension, then stretch hard again - release and repeat in small intervalls? Or must it be some kind of mechanical stretching device?

I’m confused.

I will be following your progress with great interest. The more detail the better. Best of luck!

A mechanical stretcher.

I built my own, but there are many commercially available devices suitable.

I am going to start a new thread specifically for this method.

And thanks!

I did my first mechanical stretching session in a hot bath this afternoon.
I did some gentle stroking movements up the shaft while stretched and while I felt minor tingling, there was little releasing this time, whereas when I used to do it before I would notice significant elacticity throughout the session.

This is the first session in a while and for some reason I ran out of hot water half way through so the water temperature wasn’t optimal for the stretching.

I will attach rough drawings of my stretcher that I drew in the paint program and while they are pretty crude I think you will get what I’m doing.

I’m guessing your hanging activities have taken a lot of the elasticity out of your tunica ?

Are you thinking that the stroking in some way helped relax into the stretch ? I didn’t pick that up from your first post.

I am not trying to overburden you with details but when you speak of “releasing” are you speaking about a relaxing of the tissues? And is the elasticity you seek apparent even under load?

I have thought of doing this during my stretches as well. Are you massaging or more rubbing?

As I understand myofascial release, there are two basic approaches.

One is the deep tissue approach where tension gives up over time and elongates, then there is a more subtle approach where gentle stimulus is applied (like Bowen) where stroking in specific directions causes the release.

I’m attempting the latter while stretching to a medium tension limit with the device.

Yesterday I saw little of the old release and this may be because the water wasn’t as hot as I would have liked, and. Also maybe because hanging has toughened things considerably.

I will find out more this evening.

Two other physical observations.

Great EQ this morning and persistent morning wood.

While wrapping for my session I noticed the shaft wasn’t as girthy when flaccid as usual, and still sore from yesterdays hanging and stretch session.

I just finished a stretcher session and experienced the eventual releasing of the tissues in the shaft after stretching to a comfortable limit and the gently stroking the shaft with an index finger 8-10 times.

With afew minutes rest the shaft seems to relax while stretched and I can comfortably expand the stretcher a few more turns until taut again.

I repeated this cycle three times today over 20 minutes and call that one set.

I am combining this with two hanging sessions and keeping an eye on EQ to assess stress, and so far EQ has been great.

I will measure at the end of February.

Stretched again today and found that the tissues did relax in stages as before, but I’m wondering if its a function of the hot water.

Great stretch nonetheless.

It got me an inch the last time.