PNF Stretching: A Quick Workout to improve Muscular Flexibility

Article by Jacob Blackhite

Any good training program must include stretching as one of its main components. In fact, I’d argue that muscular flexibility workouts should be a part of everyone’s life, exerciser or not. A PNF stretching routine, in my humble opinion, contains the most effective stretches for flexibility that you can perform. PNF stretching is also known as isometric stretching or contract-relax stretching. “Relax Into Stretch” by Pavel Tsatsouline describes these types of flexibility stretches.

The main reason why most people can’t do a full split is because of muscle tension. To test your agility, Pavel suggests that you position each of your legs at a ninety degree angle. Your body keeps you from doing a split with both legs extended, even though it is a relatively simple task when you’re only extending one leg at a time. The nervous system only allows the stretching of muscles to a certain point in accordance to what has happened in the past. In response to this, your muscles resist which causes this lack of flexibility.

The terms that are commonly used for Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Fascilitation or PNF are contract-relax and isometric stretching. You will be able to increase your muscles’ range of motion when you practice this effective stretching protocol on a regular basis. Here is how PNF stretching works: 1) Briefly contract your muscle; 2) relax it; then 3) quickly extend it a bit further. Because bodily reflexes have a slow reaction time, this method is very effective. Your muscles will keep on stretching even though you have relaxed them. And you will be able to move the muscle past its previous stretch-point, despite the fact that you don’t have a lot of time before your reflexes come into play to stop the stretch.

Isometric stretching actually improves your flexibility by making you stronger as well. This occurs because your body stretches more easily and feels comfortable doing it when it is strong. Essentially, your body realizes that it has the strength to recover from the stretched position which prevents your reflexes from kicking in, thereby allowing you to stretch further. In other words, you get more flexible.

Pavel covers three techniques to incorporate into a stretching routine. To begin you should breath deeply and then exhale the breath immediately while engaged in stretching. Your body can attain complete relaxation by doing this and will allow you more freedom of movement. 2) Forced relaxation constitutes the second method. This is really a test of mental fortitude as you hold the stretch until your muscles can’t take any more. Finally, Pavel discusses the Clasp Knife method which essentially involves canceling out your stretch reflex by aggressively applying force.

A positive aspect is that there are no limits on where you can do it. A PNF routine can even be done while watching t.v. Formulating an exercise plan using isometric stretching will aid you muscular flexibility while at the same time adding to increased strength and limberness. Workouts incorporating these stretches for flexibility only need to be done a few times per week for noticeable benefit. It may be that after three to six months of doing these exercises you may find that you are able to actually execute a full split!

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