Active Isolated Stretching or A.I.S. is much more than the stretching with which you may be familiar.

While traditional stretches are held for 30-60 seconds, A.I.S. stretches are held for only 2-3 seconds and are performed with specific movement in a specific direction allowing tissue to be maximally released.

Developed and refined over the past four decades by world renowned kinesiologist, educator and lecturer Aaron Mattes , A.I.S. has been successfully employed on athletes at every level and on non-athletes from every walk of life for a wide variety of conditions.

A.I.S. lengthens, 'opens up' and increases blood and oxygen supply to muscle and surrounding tissue. It can also eliminate injury by breaking up adhesions (scar tissue) from chronic sprains or strains.

Providing myofascial release it also lessens the chance of injury in the future by restoring a normal range of movement in the joints.

Active

Refers to 'active movement' which means that you are actually moving one muscle in order to stretch another muscle. For example, moving your head to the right to stretch the muscles on the left. This has the added benefit of providing exercise at the same time.

Isolated

Means that, when a stretch is performed, each muscle or muscle group is positioned so that it may be stretched in the right way, at the best angle, and to just the right extent to provide optimum release of tissue.

With A.I.S., a stretch is held for only 2-3 seconds. Why ?

There is a protective mechanism built into a muscle called a stretch reflex. If a muscle is stretched too far, too fast or for too long, then this reflex is activated.

That reflex causes the muscle to protect itself by contracting. If a muscle is contracting, then it cannot be effectively stretched. By holding a stretch for only 2-3 seconds, the stretch reflex is avoided.

With A.I.S., you use one muscle to relax and stretch another. How ?

A principal of science known as 'Sherrington's Law' states, when one muscle or muscle group is 'turned on' or contracting, the opposite muscle or muscle group is 'turned off' or inhibited from contracting. For example if you lift your leg straight up toward your body, you are using or 'turning on' the muscles on the front of your thigh. In turn, the muscles on the back of your thigh (your hamstrings) are 'turned off'. This is most commonly termed reciprocal inhibition. In this state, they can be stretched most effectively.

A.I.S. uses a 2-3 second stretch along with reciprocal inhibition to offer a safe and effective release of muscle and surrounding tissue.

Don't think of stretching just as a way of 'elongating' a muscle. Think of it in terms of 'opening up' or releasing tissue in order to restore blood flow and in terms of breaking up adhesions that have been restricting movement sometimes for years.

An effective stretch can reach all parts of a muscle - even the areas that are not accessible with manual massage. Stretching opens up the tissue giving freedom to muscles and joints, allowing blood and oxygen to nourish muscle, bone and all surrounding tissue.

An effective stretch can simultaneously work the muscle and tendon (where muscle connects to bone) as well as the superficial and deep fascia.

Regular massage, while great for relaxation, can reach only part of the muscle being worked.

These are just some of the conditions that can be helped with Active Isolated Stretching and Strengthening.