Byrdie Calls on Heather Jeffcoat on Stretching Post-Workout
The website Byrdie has garnered quite a following thanks to their informative, well written content on all things related to women’s health and beauty. In this recent article they reached out to our own Heather Jeffcoat, DPT for her expert advice on how to improve the effectiveness of your pre- and post-workout regimen with a few simple stretching tips.
The article begins:
We naturally do it first thing in the morning, reaching high and long into the air to rid our body of tension and stress, yet many of us skip the stretching portion of our workout, promising to do it next time. Love it or hate it, stretching is an essential component for many in leading a healthy and fit lifestyle.
Building a daily stretch sequence is simple and comes with a slew of health benefits, from increasing range of motion and improving flexibility, to warding off the risk of injury—all from just 10 minutes of mat time a day.
Whether you’re new to stretching, need a boost of motivation, or would like to elevate your stretch game, listen up! We’ve asked the experts to break down the various forms of stretching, how long to hold each stretch to gain the full benefit, and which myths should be debunked.
Meet the Expert
- Heather Jeffcoat, DPT is the owner of Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. She holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and is a certified fascial stretch therapist and Pilates instructor.
Does Stretching Actually Have Proven Benefits?
Although stretching serves its individual purpose to each person, collectively, the overriding consensus on stretching is its positive role across many aspects of our health. But these benefits depend on how and why we stretch.
At its simplest, many find stretching a welcome relief. “I work mainly with patients suffering with chronic pain, and for them, stretching feels great—it’s like accessing an itch that has been building up slowly over time which can temporarily relieve pain,” explains Heather Jeffcoat.
