Active Isolated Stretching

Jim and Phil Wharton are a father and son duo who pioneered and finely tuned "kinesiotherapy" into what is now known as "Active-Isolated Stretching".  Active-Isolated Stretching (or AI) was initially created out of necessity- when the potentially career ending diagnosis of scoliosis was given to Phil, a competitive long-distance runner. As Phil transitioned from high school to the collegiate level he increased his weekly mileage to over 90 miles per week, ultimately leading to numerous injuries and the recommendation for surgical intervention to reverse his scoliosis. Jim (an exercise physiologist) and  his son Phil stumbled upon "Kinesiotherapy" and over time, adapted it to create AI, a form of dynamic stretching that uses muscles natural reflex loops to create maximal relaxation of the tight tissue. This works by using what is called "reciprocal inhibition" of the muscle. Because your body can't straighten and bend your knee at the same time, when you tell your body to straighten your knee and contract your front thigh muscle (or Quadricep), your brain sends a message back down to the muscle on the back of the thigh (your Hamstring) to turn off , or "inhibit" so the movement can occur. By taping into this feedback loop, active isolated stretching can create length in the goal tissue without any resistance from the muscle that is originally tight. The AI system helped Phil get back to the sport he loves and now Jim and Phil teach the AI system to elites and novices around the world.

AI states that 10 repetitions with 2 secound holds performed one to four times daily is recommended to significantly increased mobility in restricted muscle tissue, thereby increasing mobility, flexibility, and performance.

I have recently begun using the AI system daily as well as teaching it to my patients and fellow runners with great success. I have attached a link to the Wharton health website and would highly recommend you take a look and give it a try!

http://www.whartonhealth.com/portfolio/nike-boulder-running-camp