What does a typical stretch therapy session look like?
A stretch therapist tailors your program to your unique needs.

They’ll apply various techniques and exercises to improve your range of motion and quality of life. Your stretch therapy sessions will probably look vastly different from your Uncle Joe’s. The actions your therapist recommends may also change as your condition improves.

If you’ve never been to stretch therapy, your session will likely start with an evaluation. Your therapist will ask you about your particular injury. If stiffness or limited movement is your main issue, they’ll evaluate your:

medical history
posture
movement
flexibility
range of motion
Your therapist will then create a treatment plan to address your issues and aim to prevent further injuries. Sessions may involve whole-body stretches from head to toe or focus on a particularly stiff or troublesome area.

A session might involve low-impact stretching exercises to strengthen or stretch an area and relieve discomfort. The therapist may use myofascial release, meaning they use their hands, fingers, elbows, or other equipment to apply pressure directly to the tissues where your muscles are restricted or knotted.

They’ll often follow this by applying ice and heat treatment to the area.

After the stretch session, you might feel more flexible and mobile immediately as your tension decreases and your circulation boosts. But you may feel sore the next day like you would from hitting the gym after a break.