The science behind the active/loaded mobility?

Hi guys

 

Can someone please explain to me the science behind the active/loaded mobility drills?

E.g 'the bench pike hang" - how can you stretch a muscle (hamstrings) that is being activated to stop you falling over??

 

same with 'stiff leg wind mill' in F1 how can contracting the muscle under load stretch it?

 

Isn't it quicker and more effective to use PNF techniques??

 

 

someone explain the mechanism at work here! thanks!

 

 

 

Loaded streching is no more than eccentric work but at your own need for mobility.

 

So with this kind of work, your gain some lenght, strenght in eccentric and concentric work and you have the protect effect of eccentric work for the futur.

So what is the reason that the coach says 'passive stretching won't work with adults because they are so crushed from their day jobs' (cited in robb wolfs podcast)??

 

Is it because he's found that most adults don't have enough density in their muscle fibres to be able to get any benefit from stretching passively?

Let me say just my vision of passiv stretching (and it's maybe not the same as Coach or other GB athlete). 

 

Passiv stretching is like "endurance" for stretching. It's not  something to gain lenght. Eccentric or load stretching is interesting to gain lentght (and strenght) to discover a new ROM. 

 

One's you have this new ROM you have to make "endurance" in this new ROM before moving to a new ROM with loaded or eccentric work. Endurance in the new ROM is the time for passiv stretching. 

I invite you to study some of Tom Kurtz material about why, as adults, passive stretching is not effective compared to loaded stretching.

Yer i was gona get his book and 'science of flexibility' to brush up on the subject

 

thanks

You are welcome, good reading and good approach to gain more flexibility, even splits. I'm working with TK material right now.

the PNF is quite advanced and needs a lot of strength, control and personal knowledge of your body.

since the foundation is basic strength you will learn how to control and listen your body through strength movement. then you can move over advanced drills.

the benefit of PNF are understood, but you need a very good range of passive flexibility before approach the pnf.

for example, for hamstring the pnf works well as you can maintain the lower back flat or arched, the vast majority of people cannot bend forward without compensate with lower back rounded. for those people pnf is not so useful. on the other side, a very good rom for hamstring ensure a decent arch on lower back.

the relaxed mobility and the active mobility are the most safe approach , with a low risk of injury.

cool and thanks for your comment

 

Although i would disagree about the needing of good passive ROM for PNF to work....If they had good passive ROM i wouldn't PNF at all!...but totally agree with the strength and control needed for it to be effective enough. In my clinic i see people with crappy hamstring ROM and hip flexor ROM everyday and PNF is THE best thing ever when a therapist is working with a client...but when you're on your own it is a abit of an effort to get the same results.

 

I did abit of research on eccentric stretching and it's clear now.

 

thanks everyone