By Leslie Luna

Tennis players do it before a match. Runners do it before a race. Swimmers do it before hopping in the pool. I’m talking about a good old stretch. Over the years, studies about the benefits of stretching have had mixed results. Some show that stretching helps, other studies show that stretching before or after exercise has little to no benefit. However, a recent New York Times article suggests stretching exercises are in as the next fitness fad.

“Our daily lives don’t challenge our joints to move to their full potential and over time we lose that mobility,” said Dr. Mollie Fitzsimmons, Co-founder of MÜV, a Physical Therapy, Pilates, and Wellness practice in Carlsbad. “We have such a sedentary lifestyle, we are not challenging our joints to work to their full ranges. It’s only natural that stretching programs are filling this gap in the fitness market.”

High-intensity interval workouts are extremely popular – think Bootcamps and CrossFit. These Peak Fitness exercises are designed to be intense and push your limits, sometimes overworking your muscles. So it’s no surprise that people are increasingly interested in the recovery aspect of exercise.

A little over a year ago, Fitzsimmons partnered with Dr. Erin Haffner and opened their clinic at the Carlsbad Gateway Center. The name of their business is a play on movement and mobility. Unlike larger clinics, MÜV is a small, yet unique facility focused on whole body integration, mobilizing clients from injury to wellness, and focusing on flexibility.

Your muscles are linked from head to toe, when one muscle is tight, it affects other areas of your body. Stretching prevents and corrects those muscle imbalances. Other benefits of stretching include better posture, preventing injury, pain reduction, and improving range of motion, making everyday tasks easier. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say stretching is just as important as exercising.

In addition to physical therapy,  MÜV also offers Pilates sessions. Both Fitzsimmons and Haffner are certified Pilates instructors.

“Stretching is extremely good. You can work on the mobility but it has to be carried over into change in pattern which is what we specialize in,“ said Fitzsimmons. “Pilates is really good about teaching body and movement awareness. It’s all about being a smarter and more efficient mover.”

If you’re feeling super tight, stretching might be exactly what you need. Bring this old ritual from the back seat to the forefront of your exercise routine.

“Physical Therapy coupled with Pilates was a new and, frankly, intimidating experience for me,” said Rachel Emery, a patient at MÜV. “Being introduced to the Reformer during my sessions allowed me to open up to exercises and movements that I normally would have avoided out of fear of further injury to my lower back. But with time I learned to trust what my body can do and have continued to show progress.”