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Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is an effective
therapeutic treatment for deep and superficial fascial release, restoring proper fascial planes for optimal physiologic functioning.
Performing an Active Isolated Stretch of no greater than 2 seconds allows the target muscle to optimally lengthen without
triggering the protective stretch reflex and subsequent reciprocal antagonistic muscle contraction. As the isolated muscle
achieves a state of relaxation, maximal beneficial stretch can be accomplished without opposing tension or resulting trauma.
Over
the past two decades, many experts have advocated prolonged stretch up to 60 seconds. However, prolonged static stretch greater
than five seconds actually decrease the blood flow within the tissue creating localized ischemia and lactic acid build up.
Ischemia from a static stretch of greater than five seconds potentiates irritation or injury of local muscular, tendonous,
lymphatic, as well as neural tissues, similar to the effects and consequences of trauma, overuse syndromes, and metabolic
disease states.
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