Benefits of microStretching®

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The Autonomic Nervous System is a hierarchically controlled, bidirectional, body-brain interface (1). It consists of three divisions: the sympathetic nervous system (thoracolumbar), the parasympathetic nervous system (craniosacral), and the enteric nervous system (gut) (2, 3).

Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have opposing effects in managing the energy flow of the body, with the sympathetic linked to “Stress“,  mobilizing the body for activity (fight, flight, or fright), with the parasympathetic linked to “Peace” (rest, wound healing  & digestion) (4).

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is associated with pain and inflammation (5, 6).  Therefore, if pain is stimulated during stretching, this activates the sympathetic response affecting the proper recovery and regeneration of the body, questioning the use of the archaic mentality of “no pain, no gain“. With microStretching® being a low-intensity gentle stretching technique, it is highly more likely to activate the parasympathetic suggesting the proverb  “the greatest gain is made without pain“. In addition, deep breathing during microStretching® ensures the activation of the parasympathetic. This form of breathing is associated with the activation of the anterior branch of the “Vagus” nerve, which is the domain of the parasympathetic.

References

  1. Farmer, A.D. & Aziz, Q. (2015). The brain-gut axis. Yamada’s textbook of gastroenterology. 227-238.
  2. Janig, W. (2013). The autonomic nervous system. In: Galizia, C., & Lledo, P.M. (eds) Neurosciences – From molecule to behavior: a university textbook. Springer Spektrum, Berlin, Heidelberg.
  3. Stankovic, I.; Adamec, I.; Kostic, V. & Habek, M. (2021). Autonomic nervous system-Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry. In Int Rev Movement Disorder, Academic Press. Vol 1; 1-17
  4. Arslan, D.; Unal Cevik, I. (2022). Interactions between the painful disorders and the autonomic nervous system. Agri. 34(3); 155-65.
  5. Schlereth, T. & Birklein, F. (2008). The sympathetic nervous system and pain. Neuromol Med. 10; 141-147.
  6. Pongratz, G. & Straub, R.H. (2014). The sympathetic nervous response in inflammation. Arthritis Res & Therapy. 16(504); 1-12.

Inflammation Management

The body’s first defense against tissue injury is the immune system, with excessive responses causing further damage (1). A central feature of this system is the production and release of pro-inflammatory proteins (cytokines) (2). These proteins are responsible for orchestrating the inflammatory response and inflammation, with the anti-inflammatory cytokines, controlling the inflammatory response preventing further injury to the tissue (3). The importance of regulating cytokines during inflammation suggests that their release needs to be controlled at multiple levels. One such level is the central nervous system (1).

At the heart of this response is the autonomic nervous system, responsible for regulating inflammation in both acute and chronic conditions. Any dysfunction of this system, in particular an imbalance between the its sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, signals an altered inflammatory response (4).

The Vagus nerve, specifically the anterior branch (parasympathetic), is a major component of the autonomic nervous system, playing a key role in the neuro-endocrine-immune axis (5). This axis to maintain homeostasis through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (5). This has an overall anti-inflammatory effect. With the parasympathetic adjusting inflammation through an inflammatory reflex, this is crucial for maintaining a homeostasis balance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory responses (6). Consequently, potential anti-inflammatory strategies targeting the autonomic pathways are of great interest, in particular the activation of the parasympathetic via the vagus nerve. This activation is a major emphasis of proper Stretch Therapy ™ and the microStretching® technique and system.

References

  1. Bellochi, C.; Carandina, A.; Montinaro, B.; Targetti, E.; Furlan, L.; Rodrigues, G.D.; Tobaldini, E.; Montano, N. (2022). The interplay between autonomic nervous system and inflammation across systemic autoimmune diseases. Int J Mol Sci 23(art 2449), 1-15.
  2. Harvanova, G; Durankova, S. & Bernasovska, J. (2023). The role of cytokines and chemokines in the inflammatory response. Alergologia Polska-Polish J Allergology. 10(3); 210-219.
  3. Cavaillon, J.M. (2001). Pro- versus anti-inflammatory cytokines: myth or reality. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-Granf, France) 47(4); 695-702.
  4. Potent, J.; Contreras, P.; Curbelo, A.; Medina, J.; Noveri, S.; Betancourt, S.; Miglaino, E.R. (2003). Heart rate varaiblity as early marker of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in septic patients. J Crit Care 18 (3): 156-63.
  5. Dantzer, R.; Konsman, J.P.; Bluthe, R.M.; Kelly, K.W. (2000). Neural and humoral pathways of communication from the immune system to the brain: parallel or convergent? Auton Neurosci 85: 60-5.
  6. Tracey, J.K. (2002). The inflammatory reflex. Nature 420: 853-59.

Tissue Extensibility

In a study conducted by Wyon et. al., a comparison was made between  low-intensity stretching (microStretching®) with moderate-intensity static stretching on both active and passive ranges of motion (1). The authors suggest that most stretching techniques are designed to place “stress” on the musculoskeletal unit in order to increase its resting length and range of motion.

The most interesting aspect of the study was the greater increase in active compared to passive range of motion, evident in both absolute and corrected ranges of motion with the use of microStretching®. The results indicate that an adaptation has occurred within the muscle itself to a greater extent than the structure(s) of the hip joint. The authors further suggest that a low-intensity and supported stretch position allows for an adaptation to occur within the muscle structure, by depressing the response of the sympathetic nervous system (associated with pain and discomfort during an intense stretch), as well as dampening the muscle spindles and Golgi Tendon Organ (1). A systematic literature review looking at stretch intensity and body positioning during stretching also concluded that these two concepts are responsible for influencing the increase in range of motion about a joint (2).

References

  1. Wyon, M.; Felton, L.; Galloway, S.A. (2009). A comparison of two stretching modalities on lower-limb range of motion measurements in recreational dancers. J Strength Cond Res 23(7): 2144-48.
  2. Apostolopoulos, N.C.; Metsios, G.S.; Flouris, A.D.; Koutedakis, Y. & Wyon, M. (2015). The relevance of stretch intensity and position – A systematic review. Front Psych. 6; 1-25.